Jasper exploring options for power plant

Jasper will begin the process of finding a company or organization interested in leasing the power plant again.

The recommendation from the electric committee includes a broader scope of use for the power plant including another power production company or a research facility interested in using the power plant for exploring environmental technologies like carbon capture.

The move was forced after the lease with Jasper Clean Energy, also known as Twisted Oaks, expired on June 20, The city received notice in May that the company was backing out of their plan to convert the coal-burning power plant to a biomass/gas hybrid power plant due to economic feasibility.

Since the announcement was made in May, the city has had consultants calling with suggestions for the use of the facility but no serious inquiries from any companies capable of doing anything with the power plan. At the electric committee meeting on Wednesday, the committee members directed Utility Services Manager Bud Hauersperger to prepare the request for interest to present it to the Jasper Utility Service Board at their upcoming, July 21 meeting.

The committee also approved Hauersperger commissioning an assessment of the plant to determine an estimate to tear it down.

The assessment would include an environmental study to determine any potential problems if it were to be taken down. According to Hauersperger, an asbestos abatement was completed about ten years ago. Along with that, a lagoon on the property designed to hold coal ash was cleaned up.

The city received a quote for the demolition of the power plant before it settled on negotiating a lease with Twisted Oak to convert the plant to burn biomass and gas. “I wasn’t comfortable with that quote because it had a lot of contingencies,” Hauersperger said.

Rock Emmert and other members of Healthy Dubois County attended the Electric Committee meeting.

Emmert commented by email that “Our leaders are above all entrusted to protect the public’s health. Responsible, critical thinking requires comprehensive analysis, which includes well-established health risks. Citizens desire full disclosure, especially when they are footing the bill and bearing the health costs. HDC will continue to address the health hazards of any proposal at this site that will increase our area’s already high cancer and asthma rates.”

Before the request for interest in the power plant is issued, it will be presented to the common council for approval.