Bell Mountain power plants second hearing postponed for environmental study
A zoning hearing for three natural gas power plants in Dickson City, Pennsylvania, was postponed because the developer, Dickson City Power, failed to submit a required environmental assessment. These power plants coincide with previously rejected data center proposals by Dickson City Development LLC, whose denials are currently being challenged in court. Residents expressed concerns about noise and air emissions from the proposed power plants.
The Dickson City Zoning Hearing Board's second session concerning three proposed natural gas power plants on Bell Mountain concluded abruptly due to the developer's failure to provide a mandated environmental assessment. Dickson City Power, a group of LLCs associated with Kriger Construction Inc., had applied in March to construct 600-megawatt power plants, but their application lacked the environmental study required by the borough's zoning ordinance. Borough Solicitor Bill Jones announced a stipulation allowing Dickson City Power to submit the assessment for planning commission review, after which zoning hearings will resume.
Residents, including Tim Pfleiderer, who lives approximately 841 feet from one proposed plant, expressed significant concerns about potential noise and air pollution impacting property values and the environment. Pfleiderer highlighted the presence of protected species like timber rattlesnakes, plants, and migrating bats, urging the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to investigate the mountain.
The proposed power plants are located across three properties and are intended to coincide with four data centers previously proposed by Dickson City Development LLC, another Kriger Construction-linked entity. The Zoning Hearing Board rejected these data center proposals in May, and those denials are now subject to legal challenges. This situation mirrors a similar development in Archbald, where Kriger Construction-related companies also seek to build the Essential Energy natural gas power plant alongside the Project Boson data center. Members of the "Stop Archbald Data Centers" movement attended the Dickson City hearing to offer support and monitor the proceedings, emphasizing regional concerns over shared environmental and energy resources.