Unanswered Questions after Oxford Power Plant Tax Plan Defeat

Town officials are still parsing out the next steps following Thursday’s narrow defeat of the 22-year, $112 million tax stabilization agreement between the town and CPV Towantic over the utility’s planned power plant in Oxford.

CPV Towantic wanted to make the payment in lieu of taxes, but residents turned it down. Many of the opponents have concerns that the payment is not enough, that the plant itself will negatively affect property values and that it will adversely affect the town’s environment.

Despite the vote, Oxford First Selectman George R. Temple says he believes the new plant still will be built, but beyond that he is uncertain of the future, reports the Waterbury Republican-American.

“Where we go from here, I don’t know,” Temple told the Republican-American. “I’m going to take the weekend off, think about it and then I will have to deal with CPV and see where we go next. ... I guess it’s an honor to live in a town that can turn down $60 million.”

The $60 million Temple is referring to is from a 1999 agreement to with the town when the proposed plant was smaller than what is planned now.

Whether that agreement still holds also is unknown.

“They don’t have the money; they can’t get the money without this contract,” opponent Wayne McCormack told the Republican-American following Thursday’s vote. “And the way the markets are, nobody is investing in energy. They won’t be able to get the money for a year or two. This is not a done deal by any stretch of the imagination.”

Click here to read the full story on the Waterbury Republican-American website.