Searsport supports moratorium BY TANYA MITCHELL SEARSPORT - Citizens at Saturday's special town meeting demonstrated overwhelming opposition to a proposed Liquefied Natural Gas terminal on Sears Island.
By a ratio of 10-1, approximately 150 voters agreed to enact a six-month moratorium on industrial development in town that would occupy more than 50 acres of land. The question of whether to enact the moratorium stemmed from reports that at least two developers had discussions with state officials about siting an LNG terminal on Sears Island.
The state owns the 941-acre island, which is managed through the Maine Department of Transportation.
While neither interested party has come fourth with a detailed proposal, Gov. John Baldacci wrote the town two weeks ago to reiterate his promise to not support an LNG terminal in a community that opposed it.
Discussions surrounding the moratorium concerned the 50-acre figure, and if the moratorium would be enough to stymie potential LNG developers long enough for the town's Comprehensive Planning Committee to write the land use ordinances.
Comprehensive Planning Committee Chairperson Phyllis Sommer said she thought land use regulations for all of the districts in town could be written and voter-approved within 10 to 12 months.
"We're not anticipating that the moratorium will have to be extended more than once," said Sommer.
Moderator and Town Attorney Peter Mason, who previously thought the town could extend the moratorium only once, learned that it may be extended as many times as the town can prove that progress is being made with regard to writing the ordinances.
Astrig Tanguay said through information she received through the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), she learned that an LNG terminal can start with a 27-acre footprint, and build from there.
"The reason 50 acres was chosen was because we didn't want to do anything to cripple General Alum or Sprague," said Selectman Jack Merrithew, regarding plans from those existing businesses to either expand or market excess acreage to new businesses.
After additional discussion, the town voted overwhelmingly in favor of enacting the moratorium, which took effect immediately following the vote.
"This does not stop all industrial developments," said Mason. "It prevents those that occupy more than 50 acres of land."
In a nonbinding straw poll Saturday, residents opposed an LNG terminal by a ratio of 10-1.
Prior to the straw poll, resident Pete Sarnacki expressed his support for staying open to hosting LNG or other large industries. Sarnacki, who teaches engineering at Maine Maritime Academy, has experience working with LNG. Sarnacki said today's technology keeps the plants running efficiently and safe.
Sarnacki brought satellite images and digital pictures of an LNG facility he visited on his way to North Carolina last week, and he spoke with property owners neighboring the site.
One gentleman who neighbors the site bought his house in 1996 for approximately $160,000. Now, Sarnacki said, the home is valued at $332,000.
There is also an 18-hole golf course in the area, as well as other tourist destinations alongside the facility.
"It's the cleanest form of hydrocarbon energy; it's the cleanest form of energy available," said Sarnacki. "It's a less-polluting power plant, and it's a clean-operating power plant."
Protecting Sears Island took center stage during discussions about the town joining the Midcoast Pine Tree Zone, a state economic development program that offers businesses in industries tax incentives for locating in eligible development locations within the town. The program provides benefits for some existing businesses to expand, should they meet criteria.
After an hour-plus debate, residents voted 83-65 in favor of joining towns like Belfast, Rockland and Waldoboro in the MPTZ, but only after voting to remove Sears Island from a list of four state-selected properties.
The three areas included for development or expansion in the MPTZ are 52 acres on Mack Point (including the Irving Tank Farm), 139 acres owned by Sprague Energy and a 152-acre lot owned by General Alum and Chemical Corp.
Voters voiced concerns about the town's membership in the MPTZ, including whether the town would be obligated to pay for improved infrastructure to accommodate an incoming business and why Sears Island was included in the state-selected parcels that would be eligible for the program.
Mason said entering the MPTZ would not stop the town from refusing a request for upgraded water or sewer lines from an incoming business. Also, Mason noted, the areas chosen for inclusion in the MPTZ are those officials with the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development deemed most viable for hosting incoming businesses. "They're not going to look at a 200-acre parcel out in North Searsport," said Mason.
Under PTZ guidelines, businesses seeking income and sales tax breaks must demonstrate they could not relocate or expand, but for the incentives allowed under the program.
Town Manager Sandra Blake, the town's voting member of the MPTZ Board, said qualifying parcels may be added or deleted through a town vote and then through final approval of the regional board.
Businesses that qualify for MPTZ benefits include light manufacturing, software development and bio-medical industries. Businesses not qualifying under the MPTZ include retail, tourism and hospitality.
Lynne Desmarais expressed her dissatisfaction with DECD representatives' explanation of what the town stood to gain by entering the MPTZ. "They did not have any answers. They imagined, they assumed, and they did not know for sure," said Desmarais.
"It doesn't show us a plan, there is missing language," added Sommer.
General Alum and Chemical Corporation Chief Operating Officer David Colter said GAC would benefit from MPTZ, both in terms of its own expansion and attracting new businesses to occupy the 112 acres surrounding the company's 40-acre plant.
Colter said the company laid off 10 percent of its work force last fall as the result of the dying paper industry, as GAC traditionally makes the chemicals that support that industry. "Some of these benefits will benefit us," said Colter. "It's very important to us that this initiative pass."
Colter said the Searsport plant employs 55 people.
Duane Seekins of Sprague Energy said MPTZ would also benefit that company, which employs 28 full-time people. With the need to transport goods to and from the facility, Seekins noted, Sprague provides about 100 jobs. As the town's largest taxpayer, Sprague is marketing its access acreage to bring in more businesses and jobs.
Tanya Mitchell can be reached at tmitch@courierpub.com or 338-3333. |
No comments:
Post a Comment