Community leaders hope the construction of the natural gas power plant outside Wyalusing marks the beginning of a more stable economy built on products made from natural gas, rather than the natural gas itself.
The Endless Mountains area is still feeling the effect of the pullback in gas exploration, although drilling is picking up a bit. Having already seen an up-down cycle in natural gas, the region is expecting to land manufacturing jobs that require natural gas to make their product.
An economic development agency serving Bradford and Susquehanna counties has been receiving inquiries from companies that manufacture waxes, lubricants and other products that use natural gas as an ingredient - what’s known as “downstream” businesses.
“Drilling and well completion work will vary,” said Anthony Ventello, executive director of the economic development agency, the Progress Authority. “If we can have an economic infrastructure the adds value to the gas, we’ll have a more stable economy.”
Plus, there are proposals for other generation projects, although smaller than the Panda Liberty project. For example, some larger entities are considering generating their own electricity from natural gas.
For a sleepy rural hamlet, even that had been swept up in Marcellus Shale natural gas rush, the activity on Route 187 in Asylum Twp. stands out, with multiple cranes visible from more than a mile away and more than 100 workers scurrying around the 30-acre Panda Liberty site.
The work will likely pick up with the improvement in the weather, although the work continued through the winter with large, heated tents allowing crews to pour concrete footers in brutally cold weather. Several temporary buildings were put up to allow carpentry crews to make the concrete forms and welders to fabricate reinforcing bar.
The plant is expected to be operational by 2016.
Work is also expected to begin on a similar plant, owned by the same companies, in Lycoming County. Both will create from between 225 and 350 megawatts of electricity.
The groundbreaking event for the Asylum Twp. site is expected in May.
Contact the writer: dfachek@timesshamrock.com
First Published: March 31, 2014, 11:19 p.m.
