SOUTH POINT - Calling past troubles "water under the bridge," Biomass Energy officials outlined plans for its $150 million renovation that could create at least 50 high paying jobs in the wood-fired power plant.

Getting answers straight from Ohio Environmental Protection Agency experts and company officials may have gone a long way toward addressing their questions, but several community leaders adopted a wait-and-see attitude.

The Ohio EPA hosted a public information session and hearing Thursday at South Point High School to answer questions and accept comments on a draft air permit that would allow Biomass to burn wood waste in the former South Point Ethanol facility to generate about 150 megawatts of electricity – enough to supply 150,000 to 200,000 households.

Only a few citizens attended, but several village council members and local leaders did show up to hear what the company plans to do. No one made comments for the EPA's official record.

As part of the $150 million renovation, Biomass would modify its seven coal and oil fired boilers to burn 100 percent wood waste - mostly sawdust and small wood chips from more than 100 sawmills and other suppliers across the Tri-State. Harris projected that the company would receive 150 to 200 shipments by truck each day and operate 350 days out of the year.

"I have said this before, but it will probably be the cleanest solid fuel power plant in the whole country," Biomass CEO Mark Harris said of the facility that would also be the largest wood-fire plant. "It will have pollution control management that is unprecedented in wood plants. ŠWe feel like we will be setting the precedent in the United States."

Construction is projected to begin this fall and be completed in 18 to 20 months. The company hopes to be partially online by January 2006 and fully operational by June of that year selling electricity to utility investors in Ohio, Pennsylvania and other areas, Harris said.

The project will create 40 to 50 permanent jobs, 400 ancillary jobs across the Tri-State and 250 to 400 construction jobs during construction. The average salary and benefit packages for the permanent jobs would be $60,000 a year, Harris said.

The permit would also allow the company to increase the boiler capacity, add an additional natural gas boiler and provide 12 acres of outside storage and handling of the wood products.

Representatives from the Portsmouth Local Air Agency answered questions about the emission levels.

Permit supervisor Cindy Charles said the boilers would be held to Best Available Control Technology pollution standards, be "inherently cleaner than coal" and be continually monitored for emission levels of nitrous oxide, particulate matter, carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide. For most, the levels would be less than generated by the former ethanol plant.

"The predicted impacts, modeled at worst-case levels, are well below accepted levels," she said when asked about the impact it could have on the village.

Mayor Bill Gaskin remained concerned about the environmental impact and infrastructure problems that so many shipments could create.

"I asked most of my questions. I am not sure I got all the answers," he said. "The figures on the board didn't mean anything to me. Apparently it is alright compared to the Ethanol plant."

Perry Township trustee Larry Clark questioned if equaling the Ethanol plant's environmental impact is a good thing or not.

"The OEPA did present the obvious: that the numbers are lower than South Point Ethanol's were, but how healthy is that?" he said. "The ethanol plant wasn't healthy for the community at all."

The thought of nearly 200 trucks entering the village also raised some issues, Gaskin said.

"I am very concerned about 150 to 200 trucks coming into town," he said. With that and the school, you are talking about a mess. I am not sure we can handle it."

South Point schools Superintendent Ken Cook said that the meeting addressed many of his concerns that were based on the fact the district is considering building a new high school across U.S. 52 from the plant.

"As long as the air is clean and meets all the EPA requirements, we don't have any problem with it," Cook said. "We welcome good neighbors."

In terms of working with the community, Harris said the company could provide electricity to industry within The Point.

"I think we will be able to work with the Lawrence Economic Development Corporation to bring in people within the park that need steam and electricity," he said.

Biomass ran into some problems last year when it tried to accept a $2.33 million deal to destroy 121,448 tons of surplus tobacco for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Ohio EPA halted those plans and Biomass eventually removed all of the tobacco.

The company has also been criticized for several fires that have broken out on the property and for not paying its taxes.

Harris explained that the company inherited $200,000 in taxes that it did not have to pay but did and also hit some difficult times during the recession.

Financing for the project is nearly completed and the company will continue to finalize the permits needed to get moving, Harris said.

The OEPA and the Portsmouth Air Agency will take the written and verbal comments and make a recommendation. The OEPA director will decide whether to issue, modify or deny the permit.