Hellervik Still Seeks To Build Gas Plant In Edmonson County

Darren Doyle, story and photos
Jim Brown, a field representative of Hellervik Oil Technologies, presented drawings of the proposed gas plant facility that they hope to bring to Edmonson County in a 9 acre area near the Industrial Park on 31W. 

Jim Brown, a representative of Hellervik Oil, addresses fiscal court.

Brown handed out copies of the drawings to the court as he discussed each one in detail. He says that there are over 990 natural gas wells in Edmonson County, found when drilling for oil. He also said the wells hold "trillions of cubic feet in gas."

Browns also said the construction of the new plant would bring up to 25 new jobs in Edmonson County and that while Hellervik wanted a successful plant, wanted to focus on being a good community neighbor.

Brown said that the plant will be a completely different configuration than the former Atmos Gas Plant in Rocky Hill that was recently disassembled.  He explained that the newly proposed plant will have no nitrogen rejection tower, which is apparently what some say emitted a sticky residue on homes and property in Rocky Hill.

He also said the compressors would be placed in acoustical suppression enclosures to reduce noise pollution and that the plant will be enclosed in a structure that will resemble a barn.

Judge Wil Cannon said his main concern was the safety and well being of Edmonson County.

"If someone is going to come in here and build a gas plant, I'd rather it be someone that shows interest in being a good community partner and a neighbor," he said. "So far, Hellervik has done a good job of showing us that, but the most important thing to this court is our citizens. We want to take care of our people."

Brown said that Hellervik's attorneys were still researching the best methods for bonding options. The county is continuing the same process.

​Without industrial zoning, county government has no control over any new business coming to the county, nor it's location. 

---