The so-called Grizzly Power Generation Project also is being proposed by Cogentrix Energy, which says it would be one of the biggest plants the company has ever built. The independent power producer based in Charlotte, NC hopes to break ground by fall 2002 and power up two-and-a-half years later.

Grizzly would provide Jefferson County with about $3.75 million in annual property tax revenues after a five-year tax exemption expires. In the meantime it would create an estimated 500 jobs during construction. Ongoing employment would consist of 35 people.

The plant would supply power to the Western power grid, which distributes electricity to 11 western states as needed. Oregon is currently home to 111 power plants, with nine others in planning of development. If all nine eventually get built, the state would be producing an additional 4,151 megawatts by 2005, a better than 50% increase from the 7,402 megawatts currently being generated.