ROME, N.Y. — Plans to build a massive new Chobani yogurt plant in Rome are moving forward.
Tuesday night, the Rome community got a chance to raise concerns about the project and the impact it could have. Construction on this project is slated to begin in Winter 2025.
With the project so close, neighbors still had many questions about the impact it’ll have on the environment.
The City Planning Commission approved an updated version of the site plan for the plant, which Chobani says the project will bring a thousand jobs.
The project has an overall cost of more than $1 billion and will be located in the Griffiss Business and Technology Park.
”I think it’s very exciting for the community,” said Mark Esposito, Chairman of the City of Rome Planning Board.
For some community members, there is worry about what a plant this size could do to the environment. Concerns ranged from carbon dioxide pollution to the water intake. 300,000 tons of carbon dioxide will be emitted per year from the Chobani site.
Many were also worried about the sound levels. The county said it will be building 12-foot-tall sound barriers to help reduce noise pollution.
Chobani will be holding a forum with community members to discuss those concerns.
The date of that has not yet been announced.