Light Department Superintendent Malcolm McDonald told light commissioners last week the town has roughly two months to decide whether to join Taunton on its quest to build a new electrical generation plant.
Light commissioners have charged a committee with studying the Municipal Light Department's future electrical needs and supply, and McDonald said the committee is almost ready to come to the board with a recommendation.
Taunton's municipal light department is proposing the construction of an electrical plant on a 100-acre site within its borders. Taunton already has two similar facilities. It is looking to get some commitments from various towns to buy into the cooperative plant.
"There's a tentative deadline of June 30 when they want a decision," said McDonald.
Taunton hopes to have the plant operational by 2012.
The committee has met with Taunton officials to discuss the proposal and the possibility of Norwood getting involved and essentially buying a share of the plant that could provide the town with up to 25 percent of its power needs.
McDonald said the committee is now weighing options that include whether to recommend the town get involved at all and if so, in what capacity.
McDonald said the town could agree to a contract to purchase power, enter a lease agreement, or join a cooperative that would, he said, be cheaper, but there would also be a risk as Norwood would become a stakeholder through the power plant's permitting process.
Committee member and Selectman Bill Plasko has been involved in the discussions from the start and called the initial talks promising. He said questions must be answered before the committee makes its final recommendation to the Electric Light Commission, which is made up of the members of the Board of Selectmen.
The town's current wholesale power contract with Northeast Utilities expires at the end of December. The town has already signed agreements to satisfy most of its power needs through 2009 and 2010, and a lesser amount in subsequent years.
Daily News staff writer Brian Falla can be reached at 781-433-8339 or bfalla@cnc.com
