Discussion to center on proposed plant

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NAUGATUCK — The Naugatuck Environmental Network is hosting a discussion next week on the proposed Towantic Power Plant.

The discussion is April 7 at 10 a.m. at the Whittemore Library, 243 Church St. State senators Joan Hartley (D-15) and Joseph Crisco (D-17) are expected to attend.

In November, the Connecticut Siting Council agreed to consider an application from the Massachusetts-based Competitive Power Ventures for a larger power plant to be built off Woodruff Hill Road in Oxford.

The project had been approved based on permits from 1999 allowing for a 512-megawatt plant on 26 acres in an industrial zone a half-mile east of Waterbury-Oxford Airport. The proposed plant is now planned to be an 805-megawatt natural gas-fired power plant, to be constructed by June 1, 2019.

The proposed plant has been a divisive topic. Opponents have raised concerns about the environmental impacts of the proposed plant, while proponents say the project would offer local trade workers jobs and provide electricity to the state.

The citing council expects to have a decision on the project by May 12.