Rockland Energy Center a possibility now
Rockland residents line up to await their turn at the podium Friday as the city council debated to reconsider their vote to turn down Rockland Energy Center’s request to locate a facility on city-owned property. It took almost two hours of public forum and a question and answer session to satisfy those attending. (Photos by Chris Wolf)
Evan Coleman represented REC during the session.
City Manager James Chaousis and clerk Stuart Sylvester during Friday’s session.
Rockland City Mayor Frank Isganitis.
Rockland’s City Hall which could very well wind up sold to make room for the energy facility.
Rockland residents line up to await their turn at the podium Friday as the city council debated to reconsider their vote to turn down Rockland Energy Center’s request to locate a facility on city-owned property. It took almost two hours of public forum and a question and answer session to satisfy those attending. (Photos by Chris Wolf)
Evan Coleman represented REC during the session.
City Manager James Chaousis and clerk Stuart Sylvester during Friday’s session.
Rockland City Mayor Frank Isganitis.
Rockland’s City Hall which could very well wind up sold to make room for the energy facility.
ROCKLAND — Rockland City Councilors voted 4 to 0 Friday, May 1, to reconsider an option by Rockland Energy Center to purchase city land for a gas-fired energy plant, a proposal that had been defeated by the Council just two nights before, April 29. Following two amendments and much discussion, the option was granted to REC to pursue its $200 million energy facility on land currently occupied by Rockland’s Public Works and City Hall.
Rockland City Hall was full of citizens May 1 who had opinions about the REC facility and the legalities of the meeting, citing it did not follow Robert’s Rules of Order. Some said Rockland did not even have the authority to call a meeting to reconsider.
But City Attorney Kevin Beal advised that the reconvened meet was, in fact, legal and binding.
Council members were surprised by the number of residents who turned out at the 9 a.m. meeting. Many of those attending, as well as two councilors, had taken time from work to be there.
Absent only was Larry Pritchett, who was away on a business trip. Counselor Louise MacLellan-Ruf, who had been away for Wednesday’s vote, was present.
MacLellan-Ruf said she returned home Wednesday evening to her phone ringing and her computer’s mailbox filling with emails.
The proposal by Rockland Energy Center LLC had developed quickly. Just one week prior, the company had approached the city with an offer to buy the land. The city had had not solicited bids to sell the properties.
Rockland resident Paul Chartrand questioned where city government operations would relocate to, saying no plan existed for the move of city hall and public works. He questioned the cost associated with a move and stated the city has no idea what those costs might be.
“There’s no way you should let go of this valuable property until you know exactly how much it will cost the taxpayers of Rockland to move this facility and the public works garage elsewhere,” he said.
The vote to now allows the city to enter into talks with REC and allow the city time to consider options as to where to move and a relocation of the Public Works building. It was suggested that REC might be willing to build a new garage for the city.
The city’s option with REC is nonbinding. The final say on a sale lies with the Rockland voters who would vote on a referendum. No sale can occur before August 31.
Evan Coleman, a spokesman for REC, said a private investment of $200 million would be made in the plant. In addition to the construction jobs, the plant will provide 16 permanent jobs, provide tax revenue for the city, and steam energy to Rockland businesses.
Electricity generated by the plant would be sold back to the power grid. A gas pipeline would be extended into the Midcoast area to connect to the plant. The pipeline woud cost roughly $1 million a mile to run from Rumford, its closest point. REC would not be doing the construction.
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