The Ohio Power Siting Board on Sept. 22 approved theconstruction of South Field Energy LLC's 1,105-MW dual-fuel, combined-cycle plant in ColumbianaCounty, Ohio.

In a separate decision, the board also granted a certificateof environmental compatibility and public need for a related 3.9-mile, 345-kVtransmission line and electrical switchyard.

The AdvancedPower AG subsidiary filed applications for the construction of thepower plant in December 2015 and the transmission line in January 2016.

South Field Energy plans to start building the power plantin January 2017 and begin commercial operation in January 2020. As previouslyreported, the $1.1billion project is intended to meet demand in the market. It isone of a half-dozen gas-fired power plants being developed in Ohio. (Case No. 15-1716-EL-BGN)

Meanwhile, the company plans to place the transmission lineand the switchyard in service by December 2018. South Field Energy willtransfer ownership of switchyard to FirstEnergy Corp. subsidiary upon its completion and the latter's approval. (Case No. 15-1717-EL-BTX)