Construction is underway on the new Competitive Power Ventures (CPV) Fairview Natural Gas-Fired Power Plant in Jackson Township, Cambria County. As a way of giving back to the community for their support, CPV donated $325,000.

“The Township doesn’t really see a lot in the way of property tax revenues. This is our way of kind of bolstering their revenue as the host community for this facility,” said Michael Resca, VP of Competitive Power Ventures.

$275,000 will cover the cost of a new Loraine Park Fishing Pond Recreational Facility. $50,000 will go to the Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Company.

“Financially, we’ll be in great shape for many, many years to come. It will keep taxes down. We’re going to help be able to do a lot of things in the community: recreation, emergency services,” said Dave Hirko, Jackson Township Manager.

The new power plant will create about 300-500 construction jobs over the next three years and about 23 full-time maintenance and management jobs at the plant, which should be up-and-running in 2020. Each year the plant operates, CPV will also donate $0.5 million dollars to the township.

 Dave Hirko said the donations and the plant will have a large economic spinoff.

“Whether it be landscaping or cleaning or maintenance services or different servicing machinery. The local restaurants, all the traffic that’s coming in and out during construction phase and after, they’ll be eating at local restaurants and buying gas. Any local business should stand to benefit,” Hirko said.

Crews are still clearing waste from the site, which should be finished in June. Construction on the plant will start later this summer.