ROBBINSTON (AP) – The developer of a proposed liquefied natural gas facility said Wednesday he is pleased that townspeople have given their approval to his plan.

Residents voted 227-83 at a special election Tuesday in favor of allowing a $400 million LNG terminal that Downeast LNG of Washington, D.C. hopes to build in this eastern Maine town.

“We have said from the start that our project was a partnership with the people of Robbinston, and we have worked every day to earn their trust and support,” said Dean Girdis, president of Downeast LNG.

About 68 percent of the town’s registered voters participated in the election.

First Selectman Tommy Moholland said the vote validated selectmen’s efforts.

“I’ve been criticized quite a bit for saying that I was for it and it makes all the hard work that me and many other residents put into this worthwhile,” he said.

Downeast LNG is one of three companies proposing LNG facilities in eastern Maine. Its proposed facility would supply up to 500 million cubic feet of gas per day.

Quoddy Bay LLC of Oklahoma is proposing a facility at Split Rock on the Passamaquoddy Tribe’s Pleasant Point Reservation, while Maine-based Calais LNG has proposed building a terminal in Calais.