HomeMy Public PortalAbout1991_02_05SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES OF THE LEESBURG TOWN COUNCIL
FEBRUARY 5, 1991
A Sp~i~! Meeting of the Leesburg Town Council was held on February 5, 1991, at 6:30 p.m.,
in the lower level committee meeting room, 25 West Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia, pursuant to
notice thereof having been delivered to all councilmembers prior thereto. The meeting was called to
order by Vice-Mayor James E. Clem. Present were: Vice-Mayor James E. Clem, Councilmembers
Georgia W. Bange, Donald A. Kimball, Claxton E. Lovin - arrived at 6:50 p.m., William F. Webb, and
Mayor Robert E. Sevila - arrived at 7:30 p.m. Absent was Councilmember Christine M. Forester. Also
present were: Acting Town Manager Steven C. Brown, Director of Utilities Randolph W. Shoemaker
and Planner Peter Stephenson.
Mr. Thomas Nails, representing Long Lake/Siemens, addressed the Council. He gave a brief
introduction/presentation stating that the plant would be located outside the town limit but in the
utilities service area.
Mr. Peter Laylor, representing Long Lake, addressed the Council stating that the Siemens plant
is a viable project that is ready to proceed. The other proposed plant is scheduled for well into the
future if at all. The plant is environmentally sensitive - it burns natural gas (methane). Siemens is
a well known company that makes the combustion turbine, the heart of the plant. It is unique, in that,
it uses very little resources. There is very little demand for water. Water is only needed when the
plant burns oil. There will be no new transmission easements and no new transmission towers, only
one additional wire. Surrounding uses include a quarry, power lines, and an industrial park. The plant
will only be run in the summer, during peak usage days. Virginia Power runs their peaking plants
about 200 - 250 hours per year. PEPCO runs up to 900 hours per year.
Mr. Don Fields, representing the Siemens Company, addressed the Council. The plant uses
natural gas about 90 percent of the time and is operated with air filters, turbines and generators.
There will be 4 to 5 employees on the site. The exhaust stack is 100 feet high and was shown from
various views by computer enhanced photography. The Dickerson plant is a base load not a peaking
plant. It burns coal and uses steam turbine. It is a larger system and the stacks are 700 feet high
with a 13 acre foot print on a 30 acre site. Our plant will require no new roads, it will have onsite
fuel storage tanks and the stacks will be clustered together and will be part of the Lee Business Park
which has 40 acres.
Mr. Peter Laylor stated that his firm will be working with PEPCO but Virginia Power will also
benefit.
Mr. Kimball asked if an expansion of the Dickerson plant would cause pollutants to float
southward and would this new plant reduce the threat from the Dickerson plant. Mr. Laylor stated
that the Dickerson plant is putting in a garbage burning facility. The pollution impact with the
proposed new plant is small because of the infrequent use. We must demonstrate to the State
Corporation Commission (SCC) that we are good neighbors benign with limited impact. Air pollutants
are well under minimum standards and there are no visible emissions.
Mr. Nails concluded by stating that this was an introductory visit for the Council. He asked that
the Council direct staff to work with the applicant on the utilities.
Clerk of Council
The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m.
Rober~ E. Sevila, Mayor
Town of Leesburg