By Carol Anders Correspondent
PLYMOUTH — The Plymouth Board of Zoning Appeals considered a request from VanVactor Farms, Inc. Tuesday for a special use application for an electric power generation facility in an existing industrial site.
At this point, discussions with the J-Power USA Development Company are in the preliminary stages.
Speaking on behalf of Van Vactor Farms was David Miller. Greg Pink of CB Richard Ellis also appeared before the board. Telephone communication was set up with Brain Niven of J-Power USA.

Miller explained the project being considered is a natural gas fired electric power generation facility. The facility, if located in Plymouth, would be erected on a 30-acre parcel in the Van Vactor Industrial Park.
Miller said the facility would only generate power 200 to 1,000 hours per year and only at peak times. Miller showed several video slides of what the proposed facility would look like. He said it would have four General Electric gas turbines that would meet all Indiana Department of Environ-mental Management specifications.
The energy created would be purchased by NIPSCO.
Miller said the potential investment would be approximately $200 million and create 12 to 15 jobs at an average wage of $86,000 per year.
Plymouth Mayor Mark Senter said, “My administration would endorse this.”
Senter prompted the presenters to explain that about 400 construction jobs over a six-month period would be necessary to complete the proposed facility.
If the project is built in Plymouth, Miller said it would be monitored by three shifts of employees over 24-hour periods.
Miller said, “The facility has to be maintained to be ready to ‘kick on’ when needed.”
Miller said he held a meeting with neighbors Friday to explain the project and allow them to ask questions. Among the neighbors attending last night’s meeting was Douglas Thompson. Thompson asked if there would be any drainage issues.
Miller replied, “They will have to meet all drainage ordinances before getting a permit.”
The BZA board voted unanimously to allow the special use. The board additionally voted 5-0 to allow a variance from the developmental standard of structure height from 45 feet to “up to” 80 feet.
Miller said similar facilities are already in place in Worthington, Ind. and San Diego, Calif.