Aug. 19--MIDDLETOWN -- Another public hearing has been scheduled regarding the proposed $340 million coke facility to be built in Middletown, but this one involves the station that would provide electricity to Middletown Works.

The Ohio Power Citing Board has scheduled a local hearing regarding Middletown Coke Company's application to construct a 67-megawatt cogeneration station in Middletown in conjunction with the coke oven plant.

The hearing is set for 5:30 p.m. Oct. 14 in the Council chambers at the Middletown City Building, One Donham Plaza.

Middletown Coke Company, a subsidiary of Knoxville, Tenn.-based SunCoke Energy, is developing a plant with 100 heat recovery coke ovens in three batteries to provide coke exclusively for AK Steel Corp.'s steelmaking operations at Middletown Works.

AK Steel will use the coke as well as the waste energy from the plant to generate some of the electricity at Middletown Works for at least 20 years, said Alan McCoy, company spokesman.

This will allow the company a steady supply of coke and electricity without having to buy it on the open market, he said.

More information regarding the proposed cogeneration station is available at www.opsb.ohio.gov.

Also, Middletown City Council is holding a public hearing at its meeting at 6:30 p.m. today, Aug. 19, on rezoning of the parcel as well as setback requirements for industrial facilities. And, on Thursday, Aug. 21, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency is holding a public hearing on SunCoke's permit application for the project.

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