Developers Back Out Of Plan For Oakwood Hills Power Plant

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Developers have abandoned a controversial plan to build a natural gas power plant in far northwest suburban Oakwood Hills.

WBBM Newsradio's Mike Krauser reports plans for the $450 million power plant sharply divided the community of about 2,000 people.

A leader of the opposition, Chris Reining, said people on his side were surprised and thrilled to learn the plan has been abandoned.

"The Village of Oakwood Hills has received written notice from Enventure Partners LLC and Northland Power Inc. that they have withdrawn their petition for a conditional use permit, text amendment and preliminary plan unit development for the property located at 5110 Valley View Road," village officials posted on the Oakwood Hills website on Thursday.

The village has cancelled a public hearing before the zoning board of appeals next month as a result.

The controversy over the plant prompted Oakwood Hills officials to close the village hall for a month, after officials said they were threatened at a zoning board hearing. The village president, village attorney, and at least one trustee have since resigned.

The Canadian developers wanted to build a 430-megawatt natural gas-fired power plant to provide energy for about 160,000 homes.

Opponents had expressed concerns about the plant's potential effect on property values, and that water usage from the deep water aquifer that supplies the village's drinking water could hit 600,000 gallons a day – or about 300 gallons per resident – to supply the water needed to run the plant.

A statement Thursday on the village website said officials and trustees appreciate "all of the people who participated in the public hearing processes, disseminated valuable information related to the petition and otherwise created an awareness of the community of Oakwood Hills and all it has to offer its residents and neighbors."