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TILTONSVILLE -- Pike Island Energy CEO Alan Skelly plans to spend about $200 million on a hydroelectric plant in the Ohio River to provide power for 20,000 homes, a development Yorkville Mayor Blair Closser and 54-year village Councilman Ron Emerson support.
During a Wednesday Federal Energy Regulatory Commission meeting in Tiltonsville, Skelly said he will provide a new fishing area for anglers and will work to improve the fishing conditions for those on the Ohio side of the Pike Island Locks and Dam.
However, he admitted the construction phase of his project could cause "fish strandings," which occurs when aquatic life is found dead on the beach or shore, or floating in the water.
Approximately 25 members of the public, elected officials and representatives of governmental agencies -- including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service -- listened to Skelly's presentation. Skelly said it would likely be about five years before his proposed plant actually could produce power, but Closser and Emerson left hopeful.
"Green energy is a big plus," Closser said. "We'll do whatever we can to support them."
This is not the first time someone has tried to build a hydroelectric plant at Pike Island. In 2014, American Municipal Power considered a similar project, but eventually dropped the idea in favor of another endeavor.
"We are happy that someone else is going to try it," Emerson said. "We are very much in favor of it."
Skelly said he is still early in the process of receiving a FERC permit, as he said it would likely be at least two years before construction could begin, while it would take about three years to build the plant once he obtains the permit.
Skelly said the project, which would probably employ 10-15 workers at "utility-level salaries," is viable because so many coal-fired power plants have closed in recent years.
He said the power generator would be located on the portion of the dam closest to Ohio to allow river vessels to pass through the locks portion of the facility.
In addition to the permanent jobs, he said about 200 construction jobs would last throughout the building phase.
"Fishing matters. We are going to talk to the fishermen. We are going to build them something nice," Skelly said, acknowledging the existing fishing pier on the Yorkville side of the dam would need to be relocated.
While attending the meeting, Wheeling resident Bob Pockl said he believes the plant would improve the fishing in this portion of the river, at which anglers are known to catch walleye, catfish, bass, perch and other fish.
He said he frequents the area of the New Martinsville/Hannibal Hydroelectric Plant, which has been in place since 1988.
"You get better water flows -- better fishing," Pockl said of the presence of a hydroelectric plant.
Skelly acknowledged the construction phase of his project could lead to fish strandings, but said, "We'll be working with the appropriate agencies on this" to mitigate any potential harm to fish.
Skelly also said his project will account for the river's tendency to rise during certain times of the year.
With the roof of the power station positioned 12 feet above the river amid normal water levels, he said workers would be prepared to shut down when needed during a flood.
"You are literally battening down the hatches during a flood event," Skelly said.
Also, Skelly said he met with community members in Yorkville earlier this week. He said one resident expressed concerns about noise during both the construction work and the operation of the plant.
"All of a sudden, when you have 30-40 cement trucks daily showing up in the area, there will be some impact," he said.
Skelly said the Wednesday hearing was required before his company could file its formal FERC application.
He said he remains optimistic the project will materialize.
"I think there is a great opportunity here. This is great site for a project like this," Skelly added.
U.S. Energy Information Administration data indicate hydroelectric power continues to grow, as generators across the nation increased wattage output by 12.9 percent from May 2016 to May 2017.