Sep. 24--Contingency plans are in place in case protesters capitalizing on the Group of 20 economic summit find their way to the Alle-Kiski Valley.

Springdale officials, in particular, are keeping an eye on the borough's two power plants. RRI Energy (formerly Reliant) operates the Cheswick Power Plant in Springdale.

An Allegheny Energy Supply plant straddles the border of Springdale and Springdale Township.

Keith Bastian, general manager of RRI Energy's plant, said his company's corporate security office in Houston, Texas, noticed chatter on some "militant" environmental Web sites indicating the Cheswick plant may be targeted by protesters.

"We're taking that fairly seriously," Bastian said. "We are taking some extra security precautions."

The plant, which borders Cheswick and employs about 100 people, will be monitored around the clock with extra security guards on duty, Bastian said.

Bastian speculated that since the plant is the only coal-fired power generator of significant size in Allegheny County, that may be why it would be targeted by protesters, even though it's about 15 miles outside Pittsburgh.

Bastian said he hopes any protesting will involve non-combative picketing.

Bastian isn't anticipating anything similar to the 2004 Greenpeace protest of an Allegheny Energy Supply plant in Masontown, Fayette County.

Activists there illegally entered the property and scaled a 750-foot smokestack to unfurl a 2,500-square-foot banner protesting then-President George W. Bush's energy policy.

"There isn't much of a belief that it will get violent," Bastian said. "Most folks just want a little attention."

That's also what Springdale police are expecting, Mayor John Molnar said.

He said an extra patrol will be on duty all week and neighboring departments are on alert in case any protests get out of hand.

In addition to watching the power plants, Molnar said police will patrol PPG Industries' Springdale facilities and the borough's drinking water reservoir.

Molnar said he would like any protesters to apply for a permit. But even if they don't, police will leave them alone as long as they don't break any laws.

"As long as they're peaceful," Molnar said. "Keep moving, don't block the sidewalks and don't trespass on private property."

Doug Colafella, a spokesman for Allegheny Energy, said officials don't anticipate any problems at their Springdale facility since it is powered by natural gas, not coal. Also, as a "peaking" plant, it only operates during heavy usage times to supplement the power grid.

But Allegheny Energy will closely watch all its Pittsburgh-area facilities nonetheless, he said.

"Clearly, with all the attention around global energy, we're keeping an eye on the situation," Colafella said. "I would say we're closely monitoring our facilities for any suspicious activity."

Around the Valley

Information was limited on whether any other of the Alle-Kiski Valley's larger employers plan to beef up security this week.

Spokesmen for steelmaker ATI Allegheny Ludlum and II-VI, the Clinton Township-based laser-optics manufacturer, did not return calls for comment.

Alcoa spokesman Kevin Lowery said the Alcoa Technical Center in Upper Burrell would continue to operate and may host additional Alcoa employees who usually work from the corporation's Pittsburgh facilities.

Lowery said he was unaware of protests planned near Alcoa's buildings, including its regional headquarters in Pittsburgh.

"We obviously are always monitoring and planning and adjusting," Lowery said. "As a matter of normal business practices we are always monitoring things and looking for potential alternate plans."

However, Lowery declined to specify any particular safety measures Alcoa may implement during the G-20 summit.

"One of the greatest tenets of security is to not talk about your security," Lowery said.

Liz Hayes can be reached at lhayes@tribweb.com or 724-226-4680.

-----

To see more of The Valley News-Dispatch or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/valleynewsdispatch/.

Copyright (c) 2009, The Valley News-Dispatch, Tarentum, Pa.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

NYSE:PPG, NYSE:AYE, NYSE:AA,

A service of YellowBrix, Inc.