MONROE COUNTY, Ga. — Monroe County's Planning and Zoning committee set out plots for a new power plant, but they needed some tracks of land rezoned to be able to build their natural gas plant.
Planning and Zoning Board members discussed Oglethorpe Power's proposal to rezone four plots of land on Rumble Road.
The site is proposed to take up 1,200 acres, but a little over 500 of that needs to be rezoned to commercial use. Commissioner Eddie Rowland explains the process of this plan.
“There are four tracks that are there that need to be rezoned to a zoning where they'll be able to build that power plant and have a buffer around us,” Rowland said.
The board recommended the rezoning so the 60-acre facility will be located in the middle of the site with the remaining space filled with natural buffers to reduce the plant's environmental and noise impact on the community.
“It's an opportunity for us to get that site correctly set up for whatever project that may go there,” Rowland said.
People like Jeremy Knowles say a new power plant will help the county.
“I know with electrical vehicles and things we need to do things to increase the power grid, and I think that helps a lot,” Knowles said.
Rowland says it's important for people to be educated on what the new plant will provide for the county.
“For the citizens that live around or near or in Monroe County anywhere, to be able to understand what's going to be there and how it's going to impact their lives,” Rowland said.