Staff Writer n [email protected]
The Spencer County Council held a public hearing ahead of their regular June 17 meeting, with the proposed natural gas plant north of Rockport taking center stage. Specifically, the hearing sought public comment on whether the county should support the project with a property tax abatement and creation of an economic revitalization area. While a fairly standard practice for any new development, this hearing quickly sparked significant opposition, resulting at the very least in delaying any tax abatement for the project.
The natural gas plant, to be built by Tenaska across US 231 from American Electric Power’s facility, has been moving forward steadily since the project’s announcement this spring. The county commissioners recently rezoned the property necessary for the project, and will be considering an economic development agreement to set conditions for county support going forward…