Naugatuck Takes No Vote on Oxford Power Plant

Naugatuck Burgess took no action on adopting an official position on the proposed Oxford based power plant.

A Republican Burgess introduced a motion to take a symbolic vote against the power plant, but that was rejected by a 7-2 margin, reports Paul Singley, of the Republican-American.

Despite the no vote, it doesn’t mean Naugatuck is in support of the power plant either, the Rep-Am reports. Several Burgess said they didn’t believe their vote would matter, the Rep-Am reports.

About 60 people attended the forum Monday night hoping for the Borough to take a stand against the power plant. Some residents expressed health and safety concerns over the proposed plant.

The Connecticut Siting Council will vote on the application in May. Despite the no vote, Naugatuck is listed as an intervenor on the project.

Read the full Rep-Am story here.

Background on the Oxford Power Plant

CPV Towantic Energy Center officials say the if the plant is constructed it will generate more than $7.9 billion in new personal income for Connecticut residents over the next 25 years. 

Over the next 25 years, the state of Connecticut will receive $250 million in tax revenue from this project, a consultant has states.

Despite the enormous tax revenue the power plant is forecast to generate and the thousands of new construction jobs, a group of residents from Oxford, Southbury, Middlebury, and Naugatuck have opposed the project citing environmental concerns, a decrease in property values and health concerns.

The Federal Aviation Administration has also raised concerns about the project because of its close proximity to the Oxford Airport.

The project was approved on a permit 15-years ago that allows it to be built as a 512-megawatt plant in an industrial zone on Woodruff Hill Road in Oxford. Massachusetts-based Competitive Power Venture is seeking to modify the application to accommodate a larger facility at the same location. The Connecticut Siting council agreed to consider an application for a larger power plant at the proposed site in December.

CPV Project Developer Andy Bazinet has said people need to remember that this project was already approved in 1999, and all his company has done is “tweak it and we’ve done a lot to improve it.”

“It’s a much more efficient project now,” Bazinet has said.

CPV officials urged anyone with to contact them through their website www.cpvtowantic.com