Dickson City hearing reveals more info on three Bell Mountain power plants
The Dickson City Zoning Hearing Board held a public hearing for three proposed natural gas power plants on Bell Mountain, developed by Dickson City Power, an affiliate of Kriger Construction. Residents voiced strong opposition due to concerns over noise and emissions. The article also notes that the board recently denied appeals from a Kriger-affiliated firm for four data centers in the area.
The Dickson City Zoning Hearing Board recently convened a 3½-hour hearing regarding three proposed natural gas power plants on Bell Mountain, spearheaded by Dickson City Power, a company linked to Kriger Construction. The developer, seeking special exceptions, plans to generate a total of 600 megawatts. During testimony, Randall Holmes, a fact witness for Dickson City Power, cited 50 years of industry experience, while David Stiles, vice president of Kriger Construction, detailed the company's background. Residents, including Tim Pfleiderer, who lives near a proposed plant, expressed strong opposition, questioning the project's impact on noise and emissions.
Dickson City Solicitor Bill Jones highlighted that a Kriger-affiliated firm, Dickson City Development LLC, had previously been denied appeals by the zoning board to build four data centers near the proposed power plant sites. Jones also pressed Holmes on the power plants' natural gas supply, which is currently uncertain, and whether the electricity could be sold to a single user, like a data center. Holmes confirmed that, in theory, the power could be contracted to an end user, including a data center, but no such arrangements are currently in place.
Residents who gained party status, such as Thomas Lashinski and Sheila Carluccio, raised concerns about community benefits and potential environmental harm. The hearing did not conclude with a decision, with testimony set to continue next month. The proposed power plants are sited on properties owned by Mountainview DC Realty LLC, Fore Up Realty LLC, and Scranton Circle Drive In Company Inc., all with connections to the developer.