Energy Co. Wants to Develop in Southwest Pa.

A new power plant slated for Westmoreland County is in the works.

Tenaska Energy of Nebraska is pursuing clearance to build a natural gas-powered facility that would provide electricity for about 900,000 homes along the East Coast.

Tenaska Project Manager Dan Culver says the construction process of the South Huntington Township plant will take about five years. He says the plant would create 300 construction jobs and 25 to 30 permanent positions.

Culver says the facility would be “clean, modern, and quiet.” He says Tenaska has a reputation as an environmentally responsible company.

“The Natural Resources Defense Council, in 2008 in their benchmark studies, listed Tenaska as having the best record for controlling emissions of carbon dioxide and as one of the top performing companies for controlling nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide.”

Though the complex would only take up a space of about 50 acres, Tenaska has bought 400 acres of land just south of I-70 near West Newton. Culver says that would create a buffer to keep the plant out of sight of its neighbors.

Culver says the natural gas capacity of the Marcellus Shale bodes well for the Westmoreland plant.

More information on the plant can be found here.

Devices Aim to Prevent Child Abuse

Westmoreland County will become the latest in western Pennsylvania to use an alert system aimed at preventing child abuse. It's called "Watchful Shepherd." It's similar to mobile communication devices that some seniors wear in case they need emergency medical attention. The technology was first adapted for children 15 years ago in Washington County. Donna Nardine, the Executive Director of Watchful Shepherd USA, says the children wear bracelets that have a button on them. The button connects them with emergency dispatchers. Each home also has a unit plugged into the phone line that operates like a speakerphone. Operators stay on the line with the children while police are on their way to the home. Nardine says there has never been a reported recurrence of child abuse in homes that have the devices.

Westmoreland Traffic Deaths Up

The death toll from auto-related accidents in Westmoreland County is climbing, with 34 fatalities so far this year.

Jay Ofsanik, a PennDOT safety spokesperson, says the accident reports show a trend. People who sped, were under the influence of alcohol, or did not wear a seat belt, were more likely to die in an accident.

Last year, there were 50 total fatalities. In 2006, there were 35.

Ofsanik says these rates are startling, and that driving slower will reduce the chances of a fatal accident.

Ofsanik also says young people between the ages of 16 to 25 were involved in half of these accidents, probably due to a combination of their inexperience and the preceding trends.