WATERLOO -- LS Power, a New Jersey-based company which is proposing a 750-megawatt, coal-fired power plant east of Waterloo, has optioned nearly 80 additional acres of land adjacent to the proposed plant site. This brings the total amount of land under option to about 400 acres.

Robert Colozza, project manager for LS Power, said the increase in land has not changed the company's current plans for the plant layout.

"It provides us some more flexibility for our site layout and what we can do with the property," Colozza said.

LS Power announced plans for the plant in December. The cost could reach $1.3 billion. The company has not gone through the permitting process yet on the plant, which could start construction by late 2007. The plant could be operational as soon as 2011.

All of the land for the proposed plant is under option. LS Power has not yet purchased any land. Colozza said the company is not currently negotiating for any substantial acreage in that area, but the company has had other discussions which cannot be disclosed.

The site for the proposed plant is east of Waterloo and on the north side of Newell Street. The plant would sit where Merle Road is located. The most recent addition of land is on the east side of the proposed site and negotiations for the land have taken place over the past few months.

Contact RC Balaban at (319) 291-1418 or rc.balaban@wcfcourier.com.