$400 million energy plant to be built in Pittsburg County

KIOWA, Okla. (AP) -- More than 300 jobs will be created with the construction of a $400 million energy facility south of Kiowa in Pittsburg County, officials said today. 

Kiowa Power Partners said the facility will provide more than $3 million of economic growth per year to the Kiowa, McAlester and Atoka region.

The natural gas plant will produce electricity at efficiencies 40 percent greater in a news release.

More than 300 construction jobs will open during the two-year construction, which is scheduled to begin late this year. Thirty-five permanent positions will be created when commercial operations are expected to start in the summer 2002.

Kiowa is a joint development between Power Resource Group Inc. of Lewisville, Texas, and McCorkell & Associates of Tulsa.

"Consumers stand to gain in a number of ways including real prospects for cheaper power in the region," said Rep. Mike Mass, D-Hartshorne.

The plant will be built on 75 acres about three miles south of Kiowa.

"The development of the Kiamichi Energy Facility, the associated expansion of services to the facility, and the abilityto provide low cost energy to the region may act as a catalyst in the development of the U.S. Highway 69 corridor," said Sen. Gene Stipe, D-McAlester.