News

October 10, 2012

Bradford County (WENY) - The gas industry has made their mark on the Northern Tier, and new jobs could help boost the economy even further, but not how you might expect. A new power plant using locally drilled natural gas was approved by the Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection, and the construction will create 500 jobs at its peak. The Pennsylvania DEP approved a plan to build the Keystone state's first power plant using locally produced gas from the Marcellus shale, generating more than 900 megawatts of electricity. Virginia-based company Moxie Liberty is set to start construction in Asylum Township, it should take a little under three years to build. DEP Representatives say they are also in the final stages of approving a similar facility in Lycoming county that would be built by Moxie Patriot, a sister company of moxie Liberty. Dan Spadoni, the Community Relations representative for the north central Pennsylvania DEP says this will add to the economic growth that Bradford county has seen over the past few years.

     “This plant when it is constructed will be the first that will run on at least some locally produced Marcellus shale gas and that's a very exciting thing for all of us here in Pennsylvania,” says Spadoni.

     When its all done the new power plant will create 30 permanent, highly paid technical jobs. The DEP also says that the plant will not contribute to air pollution.