NTE Energy says its natural gas power plant is clean burning and that homeowners have nothing to fear.
The company is looking at several sites around Monroe Township to build a plant. It's already started contacted homeowners to buy land.
The company says it will need about 100 acres to construct it's $900 million facility.
One of the proposed sites for its natural gas plant is a farm field about 2,500 feet from Westfall Elementary. It's just one of several reasons why members of this Pickaway county community say: "not in my backyard."
Jayne Barnes is part owner of a successful honey business but she has bitter taste in her mouth about a power plant that could be built about a 1/2 mile from where her honey flows.
"If it goes in right behind our house we will not stay here," she said.
This is what could come to a farm field near her home.
NTE Energy wants to build a $900 million natural gas power plant.
10TV spoke to the company's senior development director about concerns from homeowners.
When asked if there is concern about the degradation of the air quality with a plate like this, Tim Eves said there isn’t any.
"I would definitely have no problem with a facility like this near my kids’ school," Eves said.
It's no comfort to Barnes.
"The particulate matter that comes from the plant the company hasn't given us enough information so we'd like to see more research about the water that is coming from the stacks," she said.
The company chose this area because of its location to power lines and underground natural gas lines.
Meanwhile, ‘No Power Plant’ signs are sprouting up around the community showing some aren't ready to welcome the power plant.
"My hope is that with enough public outcry they can look at other areas in the country," Barnes said.
NTE says it’s yet to obtain permits from the Ohio Power Siting Board and the USEPA.
The plant is expected to use between 6 to 8 million gallons of water a day.
NTE energy confirms that two days after its development director met with angry residents on Monday during a township meeting, he resigned.
The company says it's yet to decide if it will build in Pickaway County. It says it will work with the community to find the best place to locate the plant.