Council to Determine if Expansion of Proposed Power Plant in Oxford Can Move Forward

Beginning Thursday, the Connecticut Siting Council will open discussion about whether the CPV Towantic Energy Center in Oxford can be upgraded to a 805-megawatt natural gas-fired power plant or must be built as a 512-megawatt plant, the Republican-American reports.

The project was approved on a permit 15-years ago that allows for it to be built as a 512-megawatt plan in an industrial zone on Woodruff Hill Road. According to the paper, Massachusetts-based Competitive Power Venture is seeking to modify the application to accommodate a larger facility at the same location.

Oxford officials support the project saying it will provide a boost to the town’s economy while opponents from Middlebury are concerned about pollution and safety.

Since the project was first proposed in 1999, the timeline for the plant has been extended and CPV is hoping to extend the construction deadline till 2019, the paper reports. If the council determines that the project can move forward, there will be public hearings in Oxford and studies from both the Federal Aviation Administration and the Connecticut DEEP will be considered.

The meeting will take place at 1 p.m. in Hearing Room Two at 10 Franklin Square in New Britain.

Read the full story at the Republican-American.

Image via Google Maps

Have a news tip? Email brian.mccready@patch.com. You can also post your own news, events and announcements on Patch by following these directions. Curious about how our new commenting platform, Disqus, works? Learn more about it here and start interacting with your neighbors on Patch.