By Donna M. Perry, Staff Writer
JAY — Selectpersons voted 4-1 Monday to continue to support Central Maine Power Co.’s proposed electricity transmission corridor from Quebec through Maine to Massachusetts.
The move denied petitions to stop the corridor presented to the board by resident Susan Theberge. The petitions have a total of 405 signatures of Jay residents. Of that number, 262 were collected at the polls on Election Day.
Theberge said she was at Monday’s meeting to ask the board to rescind support for the 145-mile corridor and to become intervenors in the New England Clean Energy Connect power project.
A total of 2,148 people voted Nov. 6, Deputy Town Clerk Raeleen York said when asked by a selectperson.
An attempt by Selectperson Gary McGrane to table action on a decision on the petition until the board could review the information failed 3-2 with Chairman Terry Bergeron joining McGrane on the vote to table. Those opposed to tabling action were Vice Chairman Tim DeMillo and Judy Diaz and Tom Goding.
Bergeron said he believed seven miles of transmission line would come down through Jay and the estimated valuation is over $21 million.
At a prior meeting, Bergeron said Jay is projected to receive more than $460,000 in annual taxes.
CMP representative John Carroll said New England is on the cusp of building its next generation of energy supply.
He touted the benefit of the project, including clean energy, jobs and energy cost savings while others in the audience voiced concerns about herbicide, tourism, harm to the north Maine woods, and jobs most likely being union positions which could cut Maine residents out.