We Feel Betrayed "We feel betrayed by Point East," Wiscasset resident Anne Leslie said, referring to an April 2005 brochure which said approving the Point East Maritime Village would "eliminate heavy industry." (Photo Paula Gibbs)

One side tried to bring home their point by loading up a pick-up truck filled with coal, while the other side relied on telemarketing and four-color brochures.

One side says it's all about progress, jobs, and lower taxes. The other side says it's all about developers trying to make a bundle while the environment suffers.

So, those who are undecided are saying to themselves, "Which way is `The Way Life Should Be,' as one of the state of Maine's slogans says?"

As this issue's "Letters to the Editor" reveals, many people have made up their minds about whether Wiscasset should allow a $1.5 billion coal gasification plant to be built here. It is being proposed by National RE/sources, parent company of the Point East Maritime Village now in the early stages of development at the site on 33 acres of land on Birch Point. Point East also owns 400 acres where National RE/sources has proposed building the plant, called Twin River Energy Center.

At a waterfront rally and news conference in Wiscasset last week called by the Back River Alliance, named after the river next to the property where the plant would be built, opponents included Anne Leslie, a member of the town's comprehensive plan committee.

"I feel betrayed by Point East," said Leslie. She referred to an April 2005 brochure from Point East, urging residents to vote for a zone change so that the maritime village could go forward. Among the benefits to residents listed in the brochure were "lower property taxes, responsible cleanup of the site, high paying quality jobs, increased local business, and eliminating heavy industry."

Leslie then pointed out a brochure which National RE/sources mailed out last week which shows a child holding an American flag, urging a yes vote on proposed ordinance changes that would allow the gasification plant to start the state and federal permitting process.

Referring to Point East representatives, Leslie said, "They told us two years ago a vote yes would mean an end to heavy industry in Wiscasset," she said. "This is not in line with the comprehensive plan," she said.

Willy Ritch, president of the Back River Alliance which opposes the plant, pointed to an old black pick up truck filled with 1,000 pounds of coal.

"It would take 14,000 of these pick up trucks, every single day, or every six seconds, to bring enough coal in for this plant," Ritch said. "The line of trucks would stretch from Red's Eats to Portland."

National RE/sources has said coal will be brought in either by barge or rail.

In a press release issued last week, Scott Houldin, principal and project manager for Twin River, said he is pleased that attention is being focused on coal because "it highlights a major benefit of the proposed facility."

"This is great," Houldin said. "I wish I could actually be there today to see this domestic fuel source displayed that has supported American families and American businesses for generations," he said.

"What is missing from the rally is a barrel of foreign crude oil as a painful reminder that the current status quo has cost American families so much and continues to threaten our national security."

The debate on the benefits of the plan "has boiled down to emotional misinformation versus facts and science," Holdin said. "The rigorous permitting process will last approximately two years and insure public health and safety."

A representative of a new opponent of the project, the Natural Resources Couincil of Maine, also spoke at the news conference.

Dylan Voorhees, Clean Energy Director for the council, said, "We have concluded that this massive coal plant, if built, would result in a giant step backward for Maine's environment and our way of life. It would result in increased mercury poollution and despite claims that it would be a clean operation, a complete analysis shows that the use of coal at a facility like this would be anything but clean."

While there has been a national effort to keep mercury out of the environment by getting rid of mercury in thermostats, thermometers and electronics, the proposed plant "would move us backward, with more mercury emissions than any other source in the state," he said.

The vote on changing the height ordinance to allow the permitting process to begin will be November 6. Residents can also vote by absentee ballot.