http://www.heraldandnews.com/articles/2005/01/24/news/community_news/cit1.txt

Cob rep to meet with Langell Valley residents

January 23, 2005

by ANGELA TORRETTA

A representative from a power plant proposed for the Langell Valley will answer questions from area residents Wednesday in Lorella.

The topic will be a proposal for the plant to make a payment to the county instead of paying property taxes.

The sum would amount to half what it would pay in property taxes, plus $300,000 a year to the Klamath County Economic Development Association.

Klamath County Commissioner Bill Brown said Friday he thought a presentation by Cob Energy Facility spokesman Paul Turner would be similar to one he gave Tuesday to the county commissioners.

During that meeting, which had no public comment portion, Turner proposed new terms for the Klamath Falls Enterprise Zone, calling the latest offer an "all-or-nothing" deal.

Last year, Cob officials offered $1 million a year for 15 years, in exchange for an exemption from county property taxes.

Turner proposed paying about $3.2 million during the first year, and less each year as the plant depreciates, winding up at $2.4 million after 15 years.

The county and city are considering allowing the economic zone to be redrawn to include a corridor of land along Highways 140 and 70 through Olene, Dairy and Bonanza, and southeast of Bonanza to the site.

Langell Valley residents requested a separate meeting after Tuesday's commissioner meeting. Brown, a Langell Valley native, said he thought it was a good idea.

"I want the Langell Valley residents to have as much information as possible, and I want it to come from Paul Turner himself. And, I want Paul to understand some of their real concerns to the project," Brown said.

Although the meeting was scheduled because of the new enterprise zone proposal, Brown said it wouldn't surprise him if a lot of questions were about the plant itself.

Peoples Energy of Chicago received state approval in October for the site. The plant would be fired by natural gas and generate about 1,150-megawatts of electricity.

Opponents have said they plan to appeal the decision to the Oregon Supreme Court.

Public meeting