JAY — A natural gas line extension in Franklin County was among the issues discussed at Androscoggin Valley Council of Government’s Spring General Assembly at Mill St. Cafe on Wednesday.

Area municipal leaders and representatives, and AVCOG staff gathered to hear status reports that also included the east-west highway, solid waste and single-stream recycling.

Alison Hagerstrom, executive director of the Greater Franklin Development Corporation, told of a grass-roots effort to to bring natural gas to four towns in Franklin County. A community group of about 30, including town managers, business leaders and residents have met since last fall to pursue bringing natural gas to Farmington, Wilton, Jay and Livermore Falls in 2014, she said.

“We want to stay on (a company’s) radar and get someone to say ‘yes,'” she said. “We’re still talking.”

Of the four companies providing natural gas in Maine, only Summit Natural Gas and Maine Natural Gas responded to a list of questions compiled by the group.  

Separate meetings held recently with each gas company included group members and representatives of the Department of Conservation that owns the Whistle Stop Trail, a proposed path for the gas line, she said.  

The trail, which connects Farmington and Livermore Falls, was suggested as a less expensive option for the gas line because it eliminates repaving a route along the road, she said.

The main difference between the two companies appears to be how far lines will stretch into communities from the main line.

Summit Gas met with the group in December in Wilton and came to the recent meeting with a map proposing a route.

It hasn’t said it will do it but “we’re on their drawing table,” Hagerstrom said.

Maine Natural Gas wasn’t sure the area could support a gas line and suggested hauling compressed gas, she said. It hasn’t really looked at the project yet, she said.

Both companies were interested in acquiring larger users, such as Franklin Memorial Hospital and the University of Maine at Farmington, as anchors for the line from which other businesses and homes could get access, she said.

The group has helped compile data for the project. A small sampling revealed use of more than 2 million gallons of oil in this area, Hagerstrom said. That’s enough volume to create interest, she added.

The project is intended to create jobs and energy savings for local businesses and homes.

“It’s a work in progress,” Hagerstrom said.

Other presentations at the General Assembly included east-west highway by Darryl Brown; solid waste by Ferg Lea; the Route 27 Byway by Dina Jackson; rural transit needs by Sandy Buchanan; and statewide and regional agricultural initiatives by Tanya Swain.

“Other people like to hear” about local issues, Robert Thompson, AVCOG executive director, said.

AVCOG holds General Assemblies twice a year in its member communities. The regional planning agency serves cities and towns in Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford counties.

abryant@sunjournal.com

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