Proposed Energy Park to call old phosphate mine home

DOVER, Fla. - Out on the east side of Dover Road.....on the other side of that long fenceline... is what some will tell you is the old Sydney Mine... But for kids who grew up in this neck of the woods, this was a wonderful playground.

"Undeveloped and kinda all natural," said Chris McGuire, as he trudged past a huge stump blocking an entrance.

He isn't used to travelling these trails this slow... Or or on foot... But he agreed to do that just to give me a glimpse into the 3000 acre collection of trails that would make any dirt-biker drool

"Oh it's awesome," he said. "Just miles and miles of trails as much as you can stand to ride, or as much gas as you have in the bike."

"Ad that's the thing," he continued. "You never know what's around the next corner."

And it was almost always something natural. Some sort of cool spider sighting or a new trail. Oh a few knuckleheads decided this made a good dump... But for the most part this place was simply left alone...

Until now, when we hear of a proposal to turn this 3000 acre site between Dover and Turkey Creek roads south of State Road 60 into one of the country's largest alternative energy plants.

Plans have been submitted to the county calling for a gasification plant to burn ag and household wastes and a solar farm... The developer says the first phase of the place -- which could employ 600 people -- could be in place by 2013.

Oh well, there goes the neighborhood, right Chris?

"Ah, just part of the progression of life," he said.