Competitive Power Ventures expressed disappointment following the decision by Selectmen to avoid sitting down for talks about locating a power plant in town.
But the company will continue to meet with town organizations, company spokesman Scott Farmelant said.
Competitive Power has proposed locating a 580-megawatt gas-fired power plant at 33 Industrial Road in South Walpole. While public response has largely been negative, before this week no town board had taken a stance on the issue.
“The overwhelming opinion [of the public] is obvious,” resident John Vaillancourt told selectmen at Tuesday’s meeting.
Later that evening Selectmen voted unanimously not to negotiate payments in lieu of taxes with the company. Such an arrangement would have generated revenue for the town in exchange for a break in property taxes for Competitive Power.
The selectmen’s decision followed a decision Monday night by sewer and water commissioners not to support the project because of the perceived threat to the town’s aquifer.
On the heels of the two boards’ decisions, Competitive Power was convinced that the power plant proposal for Walpole remained viable. The town just needs to hear more information, according to a company statement.
The company “remains confident that [selectmen and commissioners’ concerns] will be resolved as more environmental and engineering information is provided to the multiple federal, state and local agencies which will review the proposed facility,” the statement says.
Left vague was whether Competitive Power would appeal to the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board seeking an override to town opposition.
Competitive Power did state that it hoped that “constructive discussions” with town officials would be renewed in the months ahead.
Farmelant refused to elaborate on the statement, beyond that the company will continue to meet with local community organizations.
Previously, Farmelant said every single town organization – “from the Kiwanis Club to the Masonic Lodge” – could expect a call from Competitive Power, seeking an audience.
These small-scale informational sessions kicked off last week with a visit to the Council on Aging.
Progress toward either more talks between the town and Competitive Power, or the removal of the proposal by Competitive Power, may depend on the current owner of the Industrial Road acreage, Tony Lorusso.
Lorusso may choose not sell the property in the face of town opposition. Tuesday night selectman Chris Timson indicated that an email communication to the board said this was a possibility.
But Lorusso said he had never emailed Timson or the board, and he did not know what Timson was referring to.
He refused to comment on the possible sale of the property before he received a letter from selectmen. Selectmen voted to send him a letter informing him of their actions, as well as their lack of support for the proposal.
Lorusso said he watched a portion of Tuesday's meeting on television.
Jeb Bobseine can be reached at jeb@walpoletimes.com or 508-668-0243, ext. 13.
