Progress Energy to hold local vendor fair
By Laura Collins
Published in News on June 3, 2010 1:46 PM
Progress Energy is planning on having a vendor fair Monday for its upcoming power plant project in Wayne County.
The fair is for local companies interested in learning more about possible work opportunities associated with the power plant.
"The gist behind the whole thing is to ensure local vendors, diverse vendors get the opportunity to come to this meeting and see what's out there and what they can possibly land. We want to make sure that our local vendors have the opportunity to land one of the contracts," said Keith Westbrook, Progress Energy operations manager.
In 2009 Progress Energy announced it will build a 950-megawatt power plant, fueled by natural gas, at the site of the existing H.F. Lee Plant near Goldsboro. Once the new plant is running, the company will close the three coal-fired units. The $900 million project also involves constructing a 38-mile natural gas pipeline extension to the site, located along the Neuse River.
Progress Energy's primary contractor, The Industrial Company, will provide an overview of the project at the meeting. Vendors can then ask specific questions with representatives from human resources, site services, consumable services, construction materials, construction services and construction equipment.
"We just want to get out there in front of the local community and say, 'We want to spend $900 million and if you meet this criteria we want to give you the opportunity to bid or be a part of the process,'" Westbrook said. "It's a way for us to reach out to the community and give back, to make sure they have that option."
Companies attending the fair, which is from 1 to 3 p.m. Monday at the Wayne Center, 208 Chestnut St., will be asked to provide information confirming that the company is an equal ppportunity employer, that it has a written drug and alcohol policy, a safety policy and quality assurance/control programs, among other information.