The village of Plover came one small step closer to getting a power plant when the Plan Commission approved the site plan for Southern Energy Inc.'s (SEI) proposed gas-fired power plant on Monday, Oct. 16. The plant would be located at the intersection of Grant Avenue and Highway 54.
"We are looking at this as one more hurdle," said Richard Holden, community development manager.
Included in the site plan are 22 recommendations from Holden. These include allowing the Plan Commission to choose the color for the stacks and the buildings, signage restrictions, having SEI voluntarily agree to a restrictive covenant to maintain an on- property buffer zone around the plant, constructing temporary off-street parking for construction vehicles, limiting construction activities on the SEI facility site to 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., and limiting noise at the property's boundary to 60 decibels, the equivalent of someone talking at three feet, for steady operations, and 65 decibels during start up.
The site plan is just one of many approvals SEI will need before they can begin construction. The village board will take action on the plant's Conditional Use permit on Wednesday, Nov. 1.
SEI must also get approval from the Public Service Commission, Army Corp of Engineers, Department of Transportation and Federal Regulatory Commission, and must meet OSHA and the state Department of Commerce's Safety and Building requirements.