The giant energy

company that wants to build a giant power plant in Fayette's backyard

has decided to reevaluate the "timing" on building the plant.

Fayette County

Commission Chairman Greg Dunn, who has been at the forefront of local

efforts to stop construction of the plant, treated the announcement this

week as a victory, at least for now.

"It looks

like the voices of the people are being heard," he said, though he

added, "we'll have to keep watching."

Williams Company

spokesman Paula Hall-Collins said the company is looking at the present

state of the national economy and deciding whether the 1,230-megawatt

plant is what the company needs in the future.

"We are

not cancelling our efforts to develop a power facility in Fulton County,

but want to take additional time to further review the market and capacity

requirements at this location," said Rich Ficken, director of power

development for Williams.

Hall-Collins

said the company will table its request for rezoning the property with

the Fulton County Commission. Action on the petition was set for next

March following several previous postponements.

She explained

that the company's option on the property is good through February, but

Williams has an option on the option that lasts six more months.

"We have

until the middle of 2002 to evaluate the site," she said.

The company

had just completed another round of studies for the site on Peters Road

and was getting ready to conduct another series of meetings with the community.

Hall-Collins

said meetings could still take place if the community leaders want to

meet with the company.

The company

had been making efforts to try and head off some of the residents' concerns,

such as moving the footprint of the building so it would not disturb a

family cemetery on the site.

"Williams

recognizes that efforts to develop a project of this kind require a public-private

partnership and the company will continue to work with local elected officials

and the community in order to create a development that will meet the

community concerns and need for power," said Ficken.