And JOHN

THOMPSON

[email protected]

Fayette County

officials thus far haven't had any contact from a company proposing to

build a massive energy supply facility on the county's northern border.

"I suspect

it will be a development of regional impact and at some point [Fayette

County officials] will be asked for comment," said Kathy Zeitler,

director of zoning. State law requires that surrounding cities and counties

be asked for comment when a development is deemed to have impact beyond

local borders.

Williams Corp.,

one of the largest companies in the nation, is proposing to build the

1,230-megawatt facility on Peters Road, just over the county line between

Ga. highways 92 and 138.

Before starting

construction, the firm faces a one-year permitting process, including

a rezoning petition that will go before the Fulton County Commission.

That petition has not yet been filed.

Residents of

the area are studying the company's plans to determine whether they will

favor or oppose them. Residents closest to the site have faced intense

pressure to sell their homes to the company, according to one resident,

who speculated that the additional land is needed to widen Peters Road

so that giant construction equipment can get to the site.

Company officials

are pledging to use only 30 acres of the 288-acre site for the facility.

"The other 250 acres would be preserved as green space," said

project director Dan Skizim.

The project,

called the Fulton Energy Center, is projected to be up and running in

2004. During the construction phase Skizim said between 400 and 700 jobs

would be generated. When the plant is operational, 40 to 50 workers will

staff the facility.

He said the

plant would generate up to $1 million in tax revenue to Fulton County

and have a minimal impact on county services, such as roads and schools.

The facility

will be powered by natural gas and the site was chosen because of its

proximity to the Transco pipeline, which Williams owns.

The company

has been in business since 1908 and is based in Tulsa, Okla. The company

recently spun off its telecom industry to a separate company.

Williams has

provided energy in Georgia for more than 50 years, including the pipeline,

compressor and petroleum stations. The company employs 500 people in the

state.

For information

on the project, go to www.FultonEnergyCenter.com .