MYPOWER REPRESENTATIVE James Florez gives a progress update on Lakeside Energy Center, a gasfired electric plant planned for construction near Richland-Chambers Reservoir. Information and a timeline for construction of the Lakeside Energy Center by MyPower Corporation of Houston was presented to members of the community last week at an informal meeting.

Proposed location of the power plant is at FM 416 and County Road 196 near Richland Chambers Reservoir. The plant will generate some 550 megawatts of electricity.

MyPower advisors James Florez and Tom Young told the small audience that the power plant intends to be a good neighbor, provide jobs and be a good steward of the environment.

"We want the facility to be something the community can be proud of," Florez said.

A natural-gas fired plant, Lakeside Energy Center has turbines that will capture the exhaust, Florez pointed out, and will meet or exceed all federal and state environmental guidelines. Water used will be recycled, and the small amount discharged after recycling will be "cleaner than it was going in", he said.

The plant will have no impact on the local ecosystem, according to the MyPower advisors, during construction or operation. "We are committed to work with the community on lighting, noise buffering, traffic management and entry beautification."

Economically, the plant is estimated to contribute about $5 million a year to the area tax rolls, and provide 400-600 construction jobs over a 3-year period. At the operation phase, the plant will employ about two dozen permanent workers.

Permits are expected to be issued later this year, with public hearings and meetings scheduled. Earliest construction start date is late 2011 or early 2012. At its completion, the power plant should be about half the size of the Calpine Power plant, Freestone Energy Center.