In October 2017, MDN told you a second Marcellus gas-fired electric generating plant is planned for Greene County, PA (see 2nd Marcellus-Fired Electric Plant Proposed for Greene County, PA). Hill Top Energy Center, based in Huntington Bay, N.Y., is planning to build a 620 megawatt plant on 41 acres of land off Thomas Road in Cumberland Township. We have indications that the project is finally getting ready to begin construction.
Last June we told you that the plant, which will be built next door to a “medical marijuana operation” (a pot growing farm) was close to having all final permits in hand (see SWPA Gas-fired Elec Plant Next to Pot Farm Nears Final Approval). At that time the facility needed a building permit from Cumberland Township. Plans were to be reviewed at the next town meeting on July 2, 2018. The town approved the plans (see below).
However, Hill Top said at that time (last June) they would not begin construction until “early 2019.” We’d say early 2019 has come and gone, and we’ve not heard a peep about the project. That is, until a sharp MDN reader, Bill M., sent along a link to a press release from GE announcing they have been selected to provide the gas turbine and generator that will be used in the project.
Here’s a copy of GE’s press release:
GE Power (NYSE: GE) today announced an order for its HA gas turbine technology for the Hill Top Energy Center in Nemacolin, Pennsylvania.
GE will work closely with Kiewit Power Constructors (Kiewit), the engineering, construction and procurement (EPC) contractor on the project, to integrate GE’s 7HA.02 gas turbine into the approximately 620-megawatt power plant project. The order also contains a GE steam turbine and generator, one heat recovery generator (HRSG), and a multi-year services agreement.
The developer of the project is Hill Top Energy LLC and financial sponsor is Ares Management, and the plant is scheduled to be completed in 2021. Electricity produced by the plant will be provided to the PJM regional transmission organization, which provides electricity to millions of customers in the northeastern United States.
“We are extremely excited to work with the Kiewit and Ares team on the Hill Top Energy Center, building a plant that produces flexible, reliable, and affordable electricity for years to come,” said Dave Ross, President of Sales, North America for GE Power. “With more than thirty HA units on order in the US alone, we’re proud that our customers continue to choose the industry-leading performance of GE’s gas technology to power homes and businesses across the nation.” (1)
We searched high and low for any media mentions about the project. Does it have all its permits now? Has it begun construction? We found the following mention in the Washington Observer-Reporter, buried in a story from July 2018:
Another energy company, Hill Top Energy Center LLC of Huntington Bay, N.Y., also proposed constructing a natural gas power plant in Greene County. Hill Top plans to build a 620-megawatt plant on 41 acres of land off Thomas Road in Cumberland Township.
Hill Top Energy earlier received all necessary environmental permits for the project. Earlier this month, the Cumberland Township Planning Commission granted conditional final approval to the company’s plans. Final approval will be granted upon receipt of an approved erosion and sedimentation control plan and a stormwater management plan. (2)
The only other media mention we could find is from a series of deed transfers that happened in late March, just published by the Observer-Reporter this past weekend:
Greene Energy Resource Recovery LLC to Hill Top Energy Center LLC, 41.7 Acres, $5,750,000 (3-28-19)
Thomas E Wesolowsky et ux to Hill Top Energy Center LLC, R/W, $17,000 (3-28-19)
Thomas W Weimer to Hill Top Energy Center LLC, R/W, $1,678 (3-28-19)
Kenneth E Swauger et ux to Hill Top Energy Center LLC, R/W, $14,600 (3-28-19)
Diana L Kerr to Hill Top Energy Center LLC, R/W, $95,12. (3-28-19)
Ann M Mooney to Hill Top Energy Center LLC, R/W, $111,900 (3-28-19)
Russell P Skiles to Hill Top Energy Center LLC, R/W, $10,759 (3-28-19)
Brian E Lemley to Hill Top Energy Center LLC, R/W, $40,000 (3-28-19)
Fred A Cuteri Jr et al to Hill Top Energy Center LLC, R/W, $25,000. (3-28-19)
Thomas E Wesolowsky et ux to Hill Top Energy Center LLC, R/W, $4,250 (3-28-19)
Thomas E Weimer et ux to Hill Top Energy Center LLC, R/W, $1,000 (3-28-19)
Kenneth E Swauger et ux to Hill Top Energy Center LLC, R/W, $3,500 (3-28-19)
Stanley J Wahula et al to Hill Top Energy Center LLC, R/W, $20,000 (3-28-19)
Diana L Kerr et al to Hill Top Energy Center LLC, R/W, $49,465 (3-29-19)
Stanley J Wahula et al to Hill Top Energy Center LLC, R/W, $20,000 (3-29-19)
Betty Forgen et con to Hill Top Energy Center LLC, R/W, $3,338 (3-29-19)
Wellington Development-WVDT LLC to Hill Top Energy Center LLC, R/W, $56,638.94 (3-29-19)
Stanley J Wahula et al to Hill Top Energy Center LLC, R/W, $13,075 (3-29-19)
Stanley Wahula to Hill Top Energy Center LLC, R/W, $13,075 (3-29-19)
Betty Forgen et con to Hill Top Energy Center LLC, R/W, $1,524 (3-29-19)
Wellington Development-WVDT LLC to Hill Top Energy Center LLC, R/W, $28,973.23 (3-29-19) (3)
Here’s what the above deed transfers look like to us: Greene Energy Resource Recovery officially sold the 41.7 acres that will be used to host the plant to Hill Top (for $5.75 million), and all of the rest of the listings are rights-of-ways (R/W), which must be from neighboring/nearby properties, granted to Hill Top to access their property.
Our conclusion: With the property now in hand and with the gas turbine/generators ordered, construction will begin soon.
(1) GE Power (May 1, 2019) – GE’s HA Gas Turbine to Power Ares’ Hill Top Energy Center
(2) Washington (PA) Observer-Reporter (Jul 21, 2018) – Company receives final permit for natural gas power plant at Hatfield’s Ferry
(3) Washington (PA) Observer-Reporter (May 5, 2019) – Greene County deeds
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