About 120 people in North Fayette had mixed opinions about a waste coal-burning power plant planned in neighboring Robinson, Washington County.

Some North Fayette and Robinson residents, including parents of Donaldson Elementary School students, discussed their concerns June 23 about potential health consequences, including air and water pollution.

Others expressed support for jobs the Beech Hollow Energy Project would create.

The North Fayette grass-roots citizens group Action for Change Today hosted the event, held in Celebrations & More on Steubenville Pike.

"We're very excited that residents are engaged and willing to step up and take action," co-chair Jennifer Iriti said. "And we look forward to continuing this kind of work and helping the residents have a voice in the proposed power plant."

Speakers included power plant watchdog Lisa Graves Marcucci, of the Environmental Integrity Project, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization advocating for enforcement of environmental laws.

She shared her allotted time with representatives of the Sierra Club and the University of Pittsburgh's Center for Healthy Environments & Communities.

The ACT group presented information provided by developer Raymond Bologna, who had declined to attend.

Also present were staff members from the offices of U.S. Rep Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair; state Rep. Mark Mustio, R-Moon; and state Rep Jesse White, D-Cecil.

Dr. Iriti planned to debrief North Fayette officials, who were unable to attend because of a supervisors' meeting the same night.

The ACT group plans to take a stance on the power plant and share its position with community residents and officials from North Fayette and the West Allegheny School District.

Champion Processing Inc. plans to build the Beech Hollow Energy Project on land bounded by Routes 22 and 980 and Candor and Beech Hollow roads.

The 780-acre site contains about 40 million tons of waste coal, or gob, that would be burned to generate electricity.