Editor's Note: We have looked at flyers and press releases issued by National RE/sources, who propose to build the Twin River coal gasification plant, and by the Back River Alliance which opposes it, in order to provide a summary of points raised by both sides .

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Next Tuesday, November 6, Wiscasset voters will be given the opportunity to reduce their property taxes by 81 percent, increase their property values, lower their electricity costs, reduce dependency on costly foreign fuel, and create 200 good jobs, according to National RE/sources, the company that proposes the Twin River Energy Center.

Since the project was announced last July, Twin River has been providing information on the proposed plant, and why it would be good for the town and the surrounding area.

One flyer produced by Twin River is called, "Vote Yes for Wiscasset's Economic Future." In it, the company tries to clarify some of the myths that are being circulated by opponents of the project. Opponents have compared the proposed Twin River plant to a coal "burning" plant. The flyer notes that coal will not be burned, but will be heated to a very high temperature to transform it into synthetic gas to generate electricity; another by-product will be low-emission diesel fuel.

Another myth is that the gasification plant will double Maine's carbon dioxide footprint. When in fact, the "Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, passed by New England states caps all carbon dioxide emissions. The company will also have to comply with the Cap and Trade System.

The Cap and Trade System focuses on global warming and reducing emission of heat trapping gases such as carbon dioxide. A common feature among their climate strategies is a "cap-and-trade" system for reducing emissions.

In fact, Twin River's generation of lower cost electricity will displace older and dirtier power plants, further reducing total carbon dioxide emissions, the company says. Additionally, the ultra clean diesel fuel produced will be much more efficient and cleaner burning than what is sold in the Maine and New England market, according to the flyer.

Twin River has budgeted $10 million for the permitting process which is expected to take two years.

"We simply would not spend these resources cultivating this opportunity if we weren't supremely confident of the project's viability," project manager Scott Houldin said recently

Another concern raised by opponents is that barge traffic created by the plant will devastate the fishing community.

However, the company points out, the fishermen have coexisted with commercial river traffic on the Sheepscot River for over 200 years.

"Economic and environmental impacts are very closely analyzed and strict regulatory measures are taken to protect these interest at all levels of permitting," the company says.

The myth that the millions of gallons of water needed to run the plant will drain private wells is simply not true, the company says. There are no plans to tap into ground water because of the lack of any "substantial aquifer near the site, and the concerns about salt water ingress into the off-site wells."

According to the energy center information they have several options that are being explore that will require very detailed and in depth engineering to make a determination.

The use of 100 percent brackish water (a mix of salt and fresh water) is proven to be an option, the company says. The use of 100 percent fresh water from surface water sources is also an option as well as the use of gray water. The use of fresh water from surface water sources would require sources from outside the immediate area and the town of Wiscasset, the company says.

The use of gray water (fully treated municipal waste water) may fit well with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, if its use displaces the demand on regional drinking water supply. According to a press release submitted by Houldin in September.

The company plans to contact the city of Bath and the town of Wiscasset about using gray water.

It has been said by opponents of the project that the plant would put 22 pounds of mercury into the environment and damage the river.

Twin River's response to this is, "Mercury emissions in Maine are estimated to be 900 pounds per year: more than half is from diesel fuel used in cars and trucks and the combustion of fuel oil. The ultra clean diesel produced at the Twin River Energy Center will contain significantly less mercury than traditional diesel oils and will help reduce mercury emissions.

"Maine has one of the toughest regulatory requirements on mercury emissions. The mercury emissions from point sources had been reduced from 100 pounds per year in 2000, to 35 pounds per year in 2007, and 25 pounds per year in 2010. Twin River Energy will be below the legal limitations set by the Maine DEP," according to one of the company's flyers.

The gasification proposal has many supporters in the area according to a brochure sent out to Wiscasset residents by Twin Rivers Energy Center.

One of the company's brochures includes quotes from Wiscasset residents and others. Duane Goud, chairman of the Wiscasset board of selectmen says, "I urge you to vote yes for the good of Wiscasset, our state, and the future of our children."

"Voting yes could be the most patriotic thing Wiscasset could do," Major Jason Allain, U.S. Army, says.

Selectman Bill Curtis says, "Good jobs and tax relief will be great for the town and region."

Selectman David Nichols, says, "I'm voting for the ordinance to allow Twin River to move to the permitting state. We need these good jobs."

Wiscasset Harbor Master, David Sutter says, "The river is a resource for the entire community providing equal recreational and commercial opportunity for all."

According to one of the company's flyers, "With today's strict federal regulations regarding the channel and advanced navigation technologies, fishermen and their property have even better protection than ever."

Michael Gucki, a visual impact analyst, is quoted as saying, "No part of this facility will be visible from 95 percent of Wiscasset."

The company says the facility will be buffered by existing tree coverage. There will be "no bright floodlights at night, no strange odors, no loud noises," according to the company.

"All will be held in check by strict federal, state and local laws, and exhaustive permitting processes."

Next Tuesday, November 6, Wiscasset voters will be given the opportunity to protect their fishing industry, the quality of their air and groundwater, and keep Wiscasset "The Prettiest Village in Maine," according to the Back River Alliance.

Back River Alliance, a grass-roots group of citizens that draws from towns throughout the Sheepscot River Valley, is opposing the project. The alliance criticizes Twin River for the fast pace of their promotional campaign.

"The developers are willing to spend a tremendous amount of money to push this ordinance change through quickly, before the realities of the project become widely known," alliance president Willy Ritch said.

In one of the alliance's handouts, the proposed plant is described as being "the largest industrial energy complex in Maine - 23 stories tall, covering 50 acres." The plant would be the state's largest power plant and its first diesel refinery, producing 9,000 barrels per day. According to the alliance, it would instantly become one of Maine's largest polluters, requiring that 60 acres of pine trees be cut down.

The pollutants include the release of 22 pounds of neurotoxin mercury into the air and water - 50 percent more than the Dragon Cement plant and more than any other facility in the state, the alliance says. Mercury damages the brain, nervous system, creates learning disabilities and places pregnant women and their developing babies on the front lines of risk.

Sulfuric acid and its by-products would be stored at the plant and shipped by rail across Maine, the alliance says. These chemicals are described as carrying severe health warnings and are listed by the federal government as extremely corrosive and explosive hazards.

According to one of the flyers published by the alliance the plant would use 5,000 tons of coal a day that would be brought to the site by barges up the Sheepscot River, Back River or by coal train. They assert that the river would be turned into a barge canal with daily traffic that could reach 20 to 30 trips per day; The flyer includes the following, "The barge traffic would destroy the Sheepscot and Back River fisheries, putting a score of families out of work and costing the region millions of dollars."

If the coal is brought by rail, they assert that as many as 100 cars twice a day would be needed, not only carrying coal but other dangerous chemicals as well.

Twin River has announced that a minimum of 8.5 million gallons of water. The alliance writes, "The developers have not said where the water will come from and no local water companies have that much water nor do any creeks or streams."

One flyer breaks down their concerns under the heading, "What the plant really means to you!"

The noise created by the plant would be equal to that of a jetport because of the unloading of coal and use of combustion turbines based on the design of jet engines on a 24/7 basis - every day of the year, the alliance wrote.

The flyer also describes the lighting needs for the plant as rivaling that of a small town. In another flyer, they describe giant flares that would burn waste gas seen hundreds of feet in the air.

There are no town ordinances that would limit the company from burning other materials, such as garbage and trash. They are sources of carbonaceous material, and could therefore be used.

The alliance says there could be accidents and chemical spills, and wastewater with chemicals could leach into the groundwater or rivers.

The town does not have the necessary light, noise or other ordinances, that would keep the developers within limits pre-determined by the town as acceptable.

The flyers also say the carbon dioxide emissions would be over five million tons per year based on other plants of a similar nature. The plant would release more carbon dioxide than all other power plants in Maine combined, the alliance says. This gas is enemy number one in efforts to control global warming.

In many of the alliances' handouts, concerns are raised about trusting Twin River's parent company, National RE/sources, which asked for and received ordinance changes to allow Point East Maritime Village to go forward.

"In April, 2005, Point East asked for your support to change town ordinances so they could build condos, houses, shops, restaurants and a marina on the Wiscasset waterfront." At the time, Point East published a flyer that quoted Project Manager Scott Houldin, as saying, "Voting yes means eliminating heavy industry." An alliance brochure tells voters that this promise has not been kept.

Another promise that the alliance says Point East did not keep was "filling the iPark with new businesses, and bringing new jobs and property tax relief."

The same brochure continues, "Now Point East says they want to build a gigantic coal plant and diesel refinery in Wiscasset. They are promising that the plant won't smell, won't make noise, won't pollute and will pay town taxes. Do you believe them?"