Madison voters reject pipeline
Voters in Madison narrowly rejected the town's proposal to build a $72 million natural gas pipeline to Richmond, funded through a bond.
The measure failed by 27 votes, the Kennebec Journal reported. A company proposing a competing pipeline, Kennebec Valley Gas Co., helped fund a local opposition group called Madison Taxpayers Against Bad Debt, which sent out mailings against the project in the last couple of weeks. Town officials said the project could help lower property taxes for residents, but Kennebec Valley Gas questioned whether it could be funded solely through bonding. Town Manager Dana Berry said he was not sure if the project would be brought again to voters, and said "scare tactics" were used to misrepresent the project to voters, the paper reported.
Kennebec Valley Gas, which in August received conditional regulatory approval for the project, yesterday in a statement said, "It is clear the citizens of Madison strongly desire a natural gas pipeline, but have chosen the alternative that places far less risk on the town of Madison and its citizens." The company is seeking tax increment financing agreements from the 12 communities, as well as contracts from large users. The city of Augusta has approved a TIF.
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