File photo
File photo
Over the last two quarters, Grand Tower Energy Center has seen some mechanical failures and now a representative of the company has confirmed operations at the gas plant have ceased.
“The plant is currently in an extended outage and ownership is conducting a review of future options,” Jonathan Beach, with Texas-based Rockland Capital, the company that manages the plant, told The Southern.
The plant employees were told of the closure plans, giving them just over a week notice. Randy Ellet, a worker of the plant for 41 years, noted employees lost their jobs just before the holiday season. While this impacted many employees, Ellet said it didn't impact him much because he had already planned to retire.
Beach didn't give any more details and state Rep. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) has been attempting to reach the company for more details, but said she has had difficulties. Bryant said she wanted to ask the company whether the closure was temporary or permanent.
The closure of Grand Tower Energy Center not only affects employees, but the Shawnee School District, which relies on the plant's property taxes for its school funding formula.
“What I will say is that we will continue to educate our students to the best of our ability and support the communities throughout our district,” Superintendent Shelly Clover-Hill said.
But tax redemptions have brought the plant's appeal back to light.
"The company has previously appealed challenges to the board’s decisions for the years 2014 to 2019 to the Property Tax Appeal Board based in Springfield," The Southern reported. "The state appeals board sided with the company in 2014 and 2015, and Jackson County appealed to the appellate court. Those two cases have not been resolved."
If rulings were to go in the company's favor, taxing bodies would have to return some revenues. If the plant were to shut down permanently, property taxes would still be collected for the physical property.
“It’s going to be hard on the area,” Ellet told The Southern.
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