Final public hearing on Wolverine air quality permit set for Tuesday
The final public hearing for Wolverine Power?s Clean Energy Venture before the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is set for Tuesday in Lansing. After that the decision on whether or not to grant the permit is in the hands of Air Quality Division chief C. Vinson Hellwig, who heard two days of testimony at Rogers City public hearings in November. No timetable is set for the announcement of that decision.
In September of last year, the DEQ issued a draft permit for the proposed 600-megawatt coal-fired steam electric power plant planned for construction within Calcite quarry property in Rogers Township. Two days of public hearings took place in the Rogers City High School gymnasium in November and the DEQ has been receiving comments via e-mail and the U.S. Mail since the draft was issued.
Cadillac-based cooperative Wolverine Power came out as the first of four coal-fired power plants to gain the draft permit status in September with a proposed plant in Holland gaining its draft permit last month.
Wolverine Clean Energy Venture promises jobs and positive economic impact on the area during the construction phase and after the power plant is in operation. The company has estimated the capital investment will be in the neighborhood of $1 billion, which would double the state equalized value (SEV) of Presque Isle County.
Construction of the power plant would create 1,000 temporary jobs, and 100 permanent positions would be fil
Written comments should be sent to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Air Quality Division, P.O. Box 30260, Lansing, Michigan 48909, to the attention of Mary Ann Dolehanty, Acting Permit Section Supervisor. All statements received by January 6, 2009, will be considered by the decision-maker (Hellwig) prior to final action.
Tuesday?s public hearing will be conducted at 1:00 p.m. in the ConCon Conference Room, Constitution Hall, 525 West Allegan Street, Atrium Level, South Tower in Lansing.