Freeholders Mulling LS Power Deal

When West Deptford Energy, LLC’s proposed natural gas-fired power plant was , it was seen as a major setback.

A 4-year-old deal with the county, which is set to expire later this summer, to buy the land for the project off Paradise Road might be a bigger stumbling block, however.

West Deptford Energy’s parent company, LS Power, struck a deal to buy 302 acres from the county–land the county originally bought from West Deptford for $9.3 million in 2007–but that deal only has weeks left before the county either grants an extension or nixes the sale under the current terms.

While the freeholders headed to a closed session Wednesday night to discuss the negotiations with the company, Freeholder Director Robert Damminger termed it more of an information session.

“We won’t be making a decision tonight,” he said.

Damminger said it’s likely the freeholders will take action on those negotiations at the board’s July 6 meeting, ahead of the contract’s expiration.