Testing at new Coweta power plant causing uproar

Tuesday, March 26th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

A noisy night in Coweta has area residents in an uproar. Nearly two weeks of testing at the Calpine electrical plant near Coweta has area homeowners complaining of noise pollution.

Plant officials say the loud humming sound is due to what's called 'steam blows,' mandatory tests that are part of the start-up of the new plant.

One phase of testing was just finished Tuesday, but the hum will continue when the second phase begins in two weeks. Plant manager Jim Doherty, "Unfortunately, it's a process that once you start you have to continue it, otherwise if we were to stop it at night, we would almost have to start it from ground one."

Plant officials say the tests usually last 7 to 10 days at a time, and are only required to be conducted once.

The Calpine plant is expected to be up and running June 1st.