FARMINGTON — A list of businesses interested in a natural gas line from Livermore Falls to Farmington has been completed, Town Manager Richard Davis told selectmen Tuesday during an update on the proposed project.
If the line is installed, those business represent a savings of 2 million gallons of heating oil, he said.
A public meeting on the project is planned from 10:30 a.m. to noon Friday, Feb. 22, at the Municipal Building. Representatives from area towns have also been invited.
Although five gas companies have been approached about installing a gas line from Jay, Summit Natural Gas of Colorado has indicated its intention to come here, he said.
The company tends to charge a higher rate initially but they extend the lines farther into residential areas. Others have lower rates but the penetration isn’t as good, he explained.
State Rep. Lance Harvell, R-Farmington, agreed, saying companies offering lower rates would provide mainly for “the big guys” such as Franklin Memorial Hospital and the University of Maine at Farmington.
Harvell referred to a study that showed the average Maine home uses about 850 gallons of number 2 fuel oil at an average price of $3.50 a gallon. A switch to natural gas would amount to savings of about $1,500 and 2½ tons of carbon emissions per home.
Summit previously indicated a possible start of construction in 2014, he said. There is a permitting and regulatory process to complete with the Public Utilities Commission, and the company’s construction plate looks full through 2013.
The company appears to want to stay within the road right of way rather than using the recreational railroad trail, as initially considered.
He said the good part is the line could be added without any tax dollars and it could be the incentive for businesses to locate here.
Timothy Johnston, executive vice president of Summit Utilities, met with about 25 municipal leaders, business and property owners in Wilton in December. He said the project seemed viable, from what he had seen.
abryant@sunjournal.com
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