New Electricity Plant to be Built in Hazle Township

Beacon Power has begun construction of a $53 million electricity processing plant in the Humboldt Industrial Park North.

According to an article on the RepublicanHerald.com, the plant will use flywheel energy storage technology that will cost less because it uses less energy to stabilize the electrical grid. This could save consumers millions of dollars in electricity costs.

The president of CAN DO Inc., Kevin O’Donnell, said, “The project is an energy security technology that will provide clean electricity storage within the PJM grid and strengthen grid stability for the manufacturing sector.”

The plant will serve customers in 13 states and the District of Columbia that belong to the PJM Interconnect. It is estimated that the plant will save ratepayers here in Pennsylvania $3.5 million to $4.5 million annually for 20 years because it can regulate the grid more efficiently than current power producers.

Beacon Power and Hazle Township received a $5 million grant through the state’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program for the project.

Beacon will operate the plant remotely with no local employees. However, building the facility will employ 60 workers over 18 months.