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Jessup Residents Oppose Possible Natural Gas Plant

JESSUP — Organizers started rallying people in Jessup Sunday in an effort to stop a proposed power plant even if it means going to court. For months, some...

JESSUP -- Organizers started rallying people in Jessup Sunday in an effort to stop a proposed power plant even if it means going to court.

For months, some people in Jessup have been looking for any way they can to stop a company, Invenergy, from building a natural gas power plant just off the Casey Highway in Jessup.

Sunday afternoon, "Citizens for a Healthy Jessup" started planning how to stop the power plant from becoming reality.

The company, Invenergy, wants to build a natural gas power plant and the plant it wants to build would be one of the largest in the state.

"I don't want it here. I don't think it should be here," said Janine Pavalone, Citizens for a Healthy Jessup. "It's going to be built on thousands of people. Literally thousands of people."

When Janine Pavalone, of Jessup, heard about the plan, she knew she had to do something. So, she created "Citizens for a Healthy Jessup."

A group looking to stop the Chicago based company from getting on the ground in Lackawanna County.

The group has hired a lawyer to look into blocking Invenergy's plans.

"People throw up their hands and so, oh I'm against it. It's a done deal. No, we're saying it's not a done deal," said Pavalone.

Even people who live outside of Jessup say they're concerned the proposed natural gas plant could harm their quality of life.

"This is definitely no good for Lackawanna County," said Thomas Lukasewicz, Throop Councilman. "It's a shame that the gas industry has been allowed to dump on Lackawanna county and this is just going to continue the dumping on Lackawanna County."

Invenergy told Newswatch 16:

"Invenergy takes seriously concerns from the communities where we develop projects, including Jessup.  More than 200 people came to our open house just a few days ago, to learn more about clean energy and our proposed power generation facility.  We continue to have positive discussions with community leaders, business owners, and with interested citizens.  It's time for constructive dialogue, and we're proud to be taking part in an open, inclusive conversation with the community."

Jerry Crinella is not completely opposed to the idea. The lifetime Jessup resident says he'd be more open to the power plant, if Invenergy didn't plan to build the facility less than a mile from so many homes.

"We don't want it in anyone's backyard. There's enough free land, open land, around here, where they can accommodate something like this," said Crinella.

Jessup Borough council members reiterated to Newswatch 16 that the proposal is not a done deal.

As of right now, there is a scheduled hearing on the matter at a council meeting on April 14 and a county hearing on the matter on March 12.

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