Plans for what some claim will become the renewable energy center of Florida are now moving forward, as residents get more of their questions answered in connection with Infinitus Renewable Energy Park (IREP) in Dover, planned for Eastern Hillsborough County.
“This is the largest privately founded project currently in Hillsborough County,” said project design firm Genesis Group Chief Information Officer (CIO), Craig H. Anderson. “It’s a win-win type of project for all involved.”
The start of construction of the proposed energy generation facilities and economic development center is planned for the end of the year and will consist of an alternative/renewable energy research and production industrial park.
Anderson said that the energy technologies planned to be used at IREP include biomass, solar, advanced biofuels and aquaculture, with an estimated at 4-6 million lbs. of tilapia and striped bass production per year.
The Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission overwhelmingly recommended approval for the proposed 3,000-acre site earlier this year on lands previously used as a phosphate mine, located on S.R. 60 between Valrico and Plant City.
To meet all the necessary requirements, Hillsborough County commission is scheduled to vote on rezoning on Tuesday, October 12.
The site for the project was chosen after a long and careful analysis of available lands, which had to meet a number of requirements necessary in order to benefit the environment and everyone in the community.
“This is not the easiest part of the process, but leads to a huge economic impact,” Anderson said.
While located outside of the hurricane evacuation zone, the center also enjoys the benefits of its closeness to major highways and within truck route access, as well as to an abundant urban and agricultural labor force.
According to Imperium Energy President Kyle Mowitz, the five-year build-out construction is slated for the end of the year. When complete, the park will be claimed as a $1 billion facility, employing about 600 workers who will run the energy systems in three shifts.
“The facility has the potential to employ up to 5,000 people during its construction phase, with its commercial, educational, warehousing, distribution and office-related jobs, just to name a few,” Mowitz said.
While some continue to have reservations about the project and its affect on the community, such as noise and more traffic, others – after considering the pros – feel that an energy park would have a positive affect, as it would create jobs by reusing an abandoned location.
“Once we were able to show local residents what this facility will accomplish and how it will operate and impact the community, the opposition for the project subsided,” Mowitz said. “We are looking to break ground in December.”
For more information and specifics about the project please visit www.genesisgroup.com/prj/irep/images/irep_community_update-farm_bureau-7-19-10.pdf.
For information, please visit www.genesisgroup.com. The design firm’s Tampa office is located at 3910 U.S. Hwy. 301, Ste. 140.
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