NTE Energy power plant in Reidsville obtains state approval.
REIDSVILLE — The NTE Energy power plant planned for Reidsville received its final Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity from the state Utilities Commission on Jan. 19, according to the NTE Reidsville Energy Center website.
This certificate is required to begin construction.
The facility has been compared to NTE’s 475-megawatt energy center under construction in Kings Mountain.
NTE plans to begin construction in the fourth quarter of 2017 and reach commercial operation in 2021, Business Wire reports.
This approval comes following the North Carolina Utilities Commission’s public hearing at the Rockingham County Courthouse on Oct. 25 in which members of the community voiced both approval and disapproval for the power plant.
At the hearing, critics expressed concerns regarding usage and removal of Dan River water, pollution, noise, industrial traffic and impacts to nearby property values.
Proponents emphasized job creation and an expected positive economic impact to the county.
During the construction phase, NTE expects to create about 300 local construction jobs.
The Rockingham County Board of Commissioners expressed their support for the project in July when they unanimously approved a post-performance tax incentives package for NTE.