Hope to discuss at Selectmen’s Feb. 9 meeting

Mon, 02/08/2021 - 6:00am

Lynda Clancy

Commercial meters (Image courtesy Summit Natural Gas)

Rockland proposed lines (Image courtesy Summit Natural Gas)

Belfast proposed lines (Image courtesy Summit Natural Gas)

Camden proposed lines (Image courtesy Summit Natural Gas)

Commercial meters (Image courtesy Summit Natural Gas)

Rockland proposed lines (Image courtesy Summit Natural Gas)

Belfast proposed lines (Image courtesy Summit Natural Gas)

Camden proposed lines (Image courtesy Summit Natural Gas)

MIDCOAST —The proposal of piping natural gas to the west side of Penobscot Bay is again surfacing, seven years after the last debate over a natural gas pipeline down Route 17 to Rockland for a power generation plant there resulted in much public scrutiny.

This time, it is Summit Natural Gas, a subsidiary of the Colorado-based Summit Utilities, Inc., that wants to build a gas line through Belfast and down Route 1 to Rockland, investing $90 million into the venture.

The company has made contact with area town managers about its proposed ventures, and is now soliciting commercial and residential customers near the proposed pipeline to turn from current heating fuel to natural gas.

At its website, the company wrote: “Summit is committed to bringing natural gas to the Midcoast region but we need your help by letting us know you’re interested!”

The company said that it is committed to continued growth and investment in Maine.

“The Midcoast area is one of the few remaining commercial centers in Maine without natural gas as an affordable, reliable, and efficient energy option,” said Summit. “That’s why we are planning to expand our service to Belfast, Camden, Lincolnville, Northport, Rockland, Rockport, and Thomaston, with service starting at the end of 2022 in select areas throughout these communities.”

Summit spokesperson Chace Jackson said Feb. 5 that the company is still finalizing construction plans for the project.

“Once finalized we will have clarity on the local, state and federal permits,” he said. “Summit’s goal is to coordinate closely with state and local official to develop the optimal construction plan.”

He said the line would connect to Knox and Waldo counties, “by connecting to a nearby natural gas transmission line.”

The project will require some above ground facilities to ready the gas for commercial and residential use, he said.

“We are working through the design of the project and plan to coordinate with communities along the route to find the best location(s) for these facilities,” he said.

On Feb. 9, the Hope Select Board will discuss communications from Summit Natural Gas at a regularly scheduled meeting.

As of Feb. 5, four town managers/administrators reported varying degrees of response to the inquiry from the privately-owned natural gas company, which currently does business in Augusta, Cumberland, Falmouth and Yarmouth.

“Northport has also been approached by Summit Natural Gas,” said Northport Town Administrator Barbara Ashey.

She said that Summit was: “looking for a sort of commitment from Northport that we would want to make the change to gas when they arrived in our area. We are not willing to make that commitment at this time.”

Kara George, Thomaston’s town manager, said her municipality had likewise been approached.

“We responded to say we are interested in having a public meeting with our Select Board, but have not heard back, yet,” she said. “No public meeting has been scheduled yet that I’m aware of.”

She was not sure if Summit was planning to meet regionally with all the municipalities.

Audra Caler, Camden’s town manager, said her town had also been contacted.

“ Summit has approached me and other town officials to talk about their project and we have all told them we’re not comfortable meeting unless it’s during a public meeting and they’ve announced their plans in a more open public forum,” she said.

And in Lincolnville, Town Administrator David Kinney said he had a discussion with Summit Natural Gas and would be providing information to the Lincolnville Board of Selectmen.

“Unless requested by a member of the Board of Selectmen or Summit Natural Gas or the public I do not anticipate public discussion at any future board meeting,” he said.

The Summit press release included two endorsements from Midcoast municipal officials: Rockport Town Manager William Post and Belfast Mayor Eric Sanders both publicly support the pipeline in the release.

“I am pleased to learn that Summit Utilities will be bringing natural gas to the Midcoast area and especially Rockport,” said Rockport Town Manager Post, in the Summit press release. “Summit’s extension of gas service creates a new option for economic development and for the environmentally minded. Just as businesses require a variety of fuel sources to meet their unique energy needs, folks in the Midcoast will now have an additional option for heating their homes as they see fit.”

Customer invitations

At its webpage for the Midcoast venture, Summit is offering rebates, “of up to $3,300 for residential customers and $6,600 for commercial customers when you upgrade or replace your old heating equipment!”

And, the company said: “most service line installations are FREE! If your property is within 250 feet of our gas line, we will install your service line at little or no cost when you upgrade your primary heating system.”

In its marketing, Summit is promoting the gas line as an economic booster.

“Whether it comes to building the businesses driving our new economy or warming our homes, Mainers need access to a consistent, reliable fuel sources like natural gas,” said Summit’s CEO Kurt Adams, in a Feb. 5 press release. “The Midcoast is one of the last commercial centers in Maine without natural gas service, which is why Summit is committed to bringing this energy option to communities along Route 1. We are very excited to help Belfast, Camden, Rockland, and other towns in the region strengthen their economies while providing them with a lower emission fuel alternative. Over the first five years of the project, we estimate that we will be able to reduce emissions by 263,000 metric tons, which is equivalent to taking 57,000 cars off the road.”

Summit Utilities, Inc. (Summit) owns natural gas distribution and transmission subsidiaries that operate in Arkansas, Colorado, Maine, Missouri and Oklahoma, in total running 5,400 miles of pipeline. The business was established in 1997 to deliver natural gas via pipelines in rural parts of the country. The company’s roots are in Colorado, with the founding of Colorado Natural Gas, Inc., it said, at its website.

The company is privately-held and overseen by a five-member board of directors.

“....It has since grown to provide safe, clean and affordable natural gas to businesses and residents in five states through Summit Natural Gas of Missouri, Inc., Summit Natural Gas of Maine, Inc. and Arkansas Oklahoma Gas Corporation,” the company said, at its website.

In its release, Summit said it would create approximately 100 new jobs with the project construction.

It would employ union labor, and partner with the Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) for completion of the majority of the project.

Reach Editorial Director Lynda Clancy at lyndaclancy@penbaypilot.com; 207-706-6657