Invenergy is proposing to build a $700 million, 1,000-megawatt natural gas plant in the village of Pascoag. The company says it would create 300 jobs and bring “major” tax revenue to the town.
The plan has been met with resistance from residents, who have staged several protests at the statehouse since it was announced.
The legislation, which passed through the House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources by an 11-2 vote, would require an approval by Burrillville voters for any type of tax agreement between the town and the developers of the power plant.
The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Cale Keable, D-Burrillville, said it was introduced in response to the frustration expressed by town residents and lawmakers over their lack of input on the matter.
“All this says is once the council comes up with that proposal, that it gets submitted to the voters of the town to see if they agree, if they’re willing to accept that deal in exchange for hosting a second power plant,” Keable explained.
“I think that’s excellent,” said Jeremy Bailey, who opposes the proposal. “Years ago, we used to have that right to vote on a potential tax agreement or tax treaty, however you want to refer to it. That right was stripped from us. We lost a little bit of that democracy that we once had, so this bill is gong to help restore that democracy to us.”
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