By Andy Dahn
CHENOA – Chenoa residents will have a chance to learn about a proposed energy plant in the area during an informational meeting tonight.
Chicago-based Invenergy wants to bring their natural gas and thermal energy plant to 5th Avenue near Masso Street. Mayor Chris Wilder answered the question: Why Chenoa?
“They’re obviously going to need a lot of water to cool the turbines that they plan to use,”Wilder said. “They need access to the power grid itself, as well as natural gas as close to a main line as possible. We believe that we have all of these things to make this offer to them.”
Wilder explained what the plant specializes in.
“This is a natural gas, thermal energy plant,” said Wilder. “They use the natural gas from the main lines that are running in the area to create electricity which then goes out into the grid.”
That electricity powers areas from Chicago to the East Coast. Wilder said bringing Invenergy to Chenoa will have multiple benefits for the community.
“It could bring jobs to Chenoa and would also create revenue for the town,” Wilder said. “They will be a taxing body. At the time that they would break ground, they said that it would take approximately two years for construction. That would bring in 200-300 local jobs. They would hire local unions and such to build the plant.”
If the plan moves forward, further testing and planning would begin in February. Tonight’s meeting at Chenoa Elementary School begins at 7 p.m.
Andy Dahn can be reached at andy.dahn@cumulus.com.
