A California-based utility is seeking state approval to build a $300 million natural-gas-fired power plant in southern Frederick County, where previous proposals have stirred controversy.
Catoctin Power, a subsidiary of San Diego-based Sempra Energy Corp., filed its application with the Maryland Public Service Commission Feb. 25 to build a 600-megawatt plant near Buckeystown, about eight miles south of the city of Frederick, according to commission records.
The site is on about 20 acres leased from Eastalco Aluminum Co. and zoned for industrial use. Sempra has been considering building a generating station there for about two years.
Sempra President Mike Niggli told The Washington Post that the industrial zoning is "the major difference" between Sempra's plan and others that were floated two years ago.
They included a proposal that Duke Energy Corp. scrapped in November 2002 amid opposition from neighbors, environmental groups and Frederick County government.
Lisa Baugher, who led the fight against Duke Energy's application, said Sempra's plan to use industrial land was an improvement, but she remained wary about the plant's possible impact on the region's water supply.
She said Sempra's estimated demand of 2.4 million gallons a day was unrealistic and could have a severe impact in the event of another drought. Previous plant proposals estimated daily
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