South Fulton

residents turned out in droves this year to try and stop a huge power

plant from being built in their backyard.

the company had decided to reevaluate its options, but residents are still

keeping tabs on the company's plans.

Early in the

spring, one of the nation's largest companies proposed to build a massive

power plant in South Fulton County.

Williams Corp.

announced its intention of building a 1,230-megawatt energy supply facility

on Peters Road near Fairburn.

The 288-acre

site borders Fayette County, and company officials are pledging to use

only 30 acres on the 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, was projected to be up and running in

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

would be generated. If the plant is built, 40 to 50 workers will staff

it.

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.

But after community

leaders and neighbors continually questioned the wisdom of building a

plant, the giant energy company in November decided to reevaluate the

"timing" on building the plant.

"It looks

like the voices of the people are being heard," said Fayette County

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

But 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

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.