PDA OKs deeding land next to biomass plant project to Georgia Power
Action by authority allows for construction of a substation near P&G biomass plant
By Carlton Fletcher
ALBANY — The Albany-Dougherty Payroll Development Authority approved Tuesday a resolution that will convey property off the Liberty Expressway adjacent to the Albany Procter & Gamble plant owned by the authority to Georgia Power Co.
The action will allow Georgia Power to construct and operate an electrical substation that will be part of the P&G biomass green energy project.
Since the PDA is currently owner of the property that the biomass plant sits on, it was asked to turn the property over to Georgia Power at no cost. The board voted 4-0 to approve the resolution, with Dougherty County Commission Chairman Chris Cohilas abstaining.
“I want to make it clear for the record that my law firm represents Georgia Power on this transaction, and after talking with PDA counsel (Jay Reynolds), I feel that it is proper for me to abstain from voting so that there is no question of impropriety,” Cohilas said before the vote.
Reynolds said handing the deed for “Tract A” over to Georgia Power is in line with the Payroll Development Authority’s mission.
“This request, incidentally, has been approved by P&G and by (project partner) Constellation energy,” the attorney told the authority board. “The action you’re asked to take is consistent with and assists in carrying out the mission and purposes for which the (PDA) was established. Your actions will serve the general good and public welfare of Dougherty County and its citizens.”
Reynolds said the authority is not being asked to make any kind of sacrifice.
“While we own at this time the land that the biomass plant sits on, P&G has always had the right to purchase it at any time for a nominal fee,” he said. “So it has always basically been their property. Georgia Power does not allow any of its facilities to be built on land that it doesn’t own, so P&G has asked the authority to deed the property to Georgia Power.”
After the vote, the board entered into executive session to discuss what Reynolds said were “pending or potential claims or litigation.” When the board returned, Reynolds asked that the members allow Albany-Dougherty EDC President Justin Strickland to find different counsel to represent it on the matter discussed in the closed session, saying he had a conflict of interest.
The board voted 5-0 to authorize Strickland to find other representation for the matter.
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