BOISE, Idaho, April 14, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alternate Energy Holdings, Inc. (OTCBB:AEHI) remains very optimistic after a hearing by Payette County Commissioners on Monday. The hearing allowed commissioners to consider a few other proposed changes to the county's comprehensive plan.
All of the ideas deal specifically with bringing any power-producing plant to Payette County in the future.
"This is good news for AEHI. All the proposed improvements to the comprehensive plan involve changes that work very well for a nuclear power plant," said Don Gillispie, AEHI CEO.
An overwhelming majority of Payette County residents have told commissioners in public hearings they want the plant, and more specifically the jobs and revenue a nuclear power plant will provide, and the opportunities to build are increasing.
Last year AEHI applied for a rezone in another part of Idaho, on a piece of property near Hammett in Elmore County. AEHI was even permitted a series of public hearings on the application, but county commissioners never made a decision. It now appears Elmore County has come back to the table.
"They have accomplished a lot in very short amount of time. The Planning and Zoning Commission is about to move forward on a change to their comprehensive plan. When they do, the county commissioners could approve it and immediately approve our rezone application because it's already been through the public hearing process. I never thought I'd see Elmore County back in the game, but at this point they could surpass Payette County in the approval process by the end of the month," said Gillispie.
The process has been of tremendous interest to the people of Idaho since the proposed plant is expected to increase the state's GDP by $5 billion during construction, with $4.8 billion flowing directly through the county.
Job numbers are equally impressive, as employment should jump by about 5,000 during construction and more than 1,000 during operation, with pay levels averaging $60,000 and $80,000 respectively.
About Alternate Energy Holdings, Inc. (http://www.alternateenergyholdings.com/)
Alternate Energy Holdings develops and markets innovative clean energy sources. The company is the nation's only independent nuclear power plant developer seeking to build new power plants in multiple non-nuclear states. Other projects include Energy Neutral, which removes energy demands from homes and businesses (http://www.energyneutralinc.com/), Colorado Energy Park (nuclear and solar generation), and International Reactors, which assists developing countries with nuclear reactors for power generation, production of potable water and other suitable applications. AEHI China, headquartered in Beijing, develops joint ventures to produce nuclear plant components and consults on nuclear power. AEHI Korea, Seoul, is assisting KEPCO (Korea Electric Power Corporation) to export their APR 1400 reactor into the U.S. and achieve NRC design certification.
"Safe Harbor" Statement: This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Sections 27A & 21E of the amended Securities and Exchange Acts of 1933-34, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Although AEHI believes that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, there can be no assurance that these statements included in this press release will prove accurate. As a result, investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.