FARMINGTON — Reactions are mixed as organizers of a natural gas line for the Farmington area learned Thursday that the University of Maine at Farmington is ready to bring natural gas to the campus.
“The good news is, it’s coming,” state Sen. Thomas Saviello, R-Wilton, said. “But I have mixed emotions. I’m disappointed with UMF. They took so long to make a decision, it jeopardizes the project for 2014.”
Although Summit Natural Gas expressed strong interest in December 2012 in building a gas line from Livermore Falls to Farmington, perhaps in 2014, the project was stalled waiting to see if UMF would become an anchor for the line.
The university, Franklin Memorial Hospital and PalletOne in Livermore Falls are the largest potential customers.
Town Manager Richard Davis said he received a call Thursday from Laurie Gardner, executive director for finance and administration at UMF, who told him the UMaine System made its decision.
“It’s a decision the town and several business people have been eagerly awaiting,” Davis said. “It’s a big step closer. I’m very pleased.”
In a prepared statement, UMF President Kathryn A. Foster said, “The University of Maine System today notified Summit Natural Gas and Trane U.S. Inc. that the University of Maine at Farmington would like to work with both parties to bring natural gas to campus and to convert certain university facilities to use the energy.”
She said UMF will meet with the two companies “to finalize an agreement and to develop plans to move forward with the project.”
Foster will not be available Thursday or Friday for further comment, according to her office.
The university put out requests for proposals in December 2012 saying what they wanted for potential alternate energy sources. The bids were due in late January 2013 and a decision expected around the end of February, Saviello said Thursday. This was in time to potentially have the line in or started by October.
No one heard from the university for months. Summit Gas was asking Saviello what was going on, he said.
Gov. Paul LePage sent a letter to UMF asking if there was something he could do to help.
“LePage agreed with me that natural gas in this area was critical,” Saviello said.
Farmington selectmen met with Gardner and Chip Gavin, director of facilities management of the University of Maine System, in October to talk about the status of the project.
The energy Request for Proposals process for the UMaine System was clearly not accomplished on schedule, Gavin told the board, noting any more information was confidential.
Saviello consulted with Summit Gas management Thursday. They tried to be hopeful that something could be done by the end of 2014, but, realistically, they were not optimistic, he said. Summit has already scheduled projects for the year, he said.
If the decision had been made six months ago, business owners and residents along the line would now have an alternative for energy, Saviello said.
Although the line will start with the anchors and may take a few years to spread out to homes, Rep. Lance Harvell, R-Farmington, sees a potential $800 a year savings for homeowners who convert to natural gas. It’s also a good selling point for businesses to move here, he said Thursday.
“If we’re saving thousands on heat in the community, at least some of that savings will stay here in the community,” he added.
“It’s good news that UMF has decided, at least the ball is rolling,” Harvell said. “But I agree with Saviello. I don’t understand the reason for the delay. It’s probably taken 2014 off the books.”
Area people, including Harvell, Alison Hagerstrom from Greater Franklin Development Corporation, selectmen, business owner William Marceau and others have worked hard, along with Davis and other town managers, to bring the natural gas line here, Saviello said.
abryant@sunjournal.com
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