Greg Sharland of Alliance Energy is shown with Sens. Ritchie and Maziarz during the tour of the plant.

OGDENSBURG -- State Sen. Patricia Ritchie, R-Heuvelton, and Sen. George Maziarz R-C, Newfane, are supporting the expansion of Ogdensburg’s cogeneration plant which they say would save local jobs and reduce costs at three state facilities.

Ritchie invited Maziarz of Western New York to join her and local officials, including Ogdensburg Mayor William Nelson and representatives of the St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency, on the tour of the Alliance Energy facility located on the grounds of the St. Lawrence County Psychiatric Center.

“I’m pleased to have Senator Maziarz’s help in encouraging private investment in jobs and a stronger economy for the North Country,” Senator Ritchie said. “Together, we are carrying the message to Albany of the importance of this investment, and of preserving and creating local jobs,” Ritchie said.

The tour was a chance for Ritchie to discuss a potential project involving the creation of a biofuel boiler that could be used to generate and sell low cost power and heat to the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center and Ogdensburg Correctional Facility and Riverview Correctional Facility.

The company has been struggling for the past few years and is hoping a contract from the state would allow it to stay in business and provide more affordable energy and heat for the state run facilities.

The plant’s owner has proposed millions of dollars in upgrades to provide electrical and heating services for the state facilities.