Wiscasset's widely watched vote was close, as most people guessed it would be, but the ordinance change that would have allowed a gasification plant to go forward lost Tuesday, November 6, surprising most observers, who thought it would pass.

The vote was 867 to 707.

Opponents of the Twin River Energy Center, proposed by National RE/sources of Greenwich, Conn., were ecstatic when they heard the results Tuesday night at the Montsweag Roadhouse restaurant in Woolwich.

Meanwhile, Twin River issued a press release titled, "Twin River Energy Center Steadfast in Mission," characterizing the voting results as "feedback."

"The citizens of Wiscasset have provided valuable feedback for the proposal to build the Twin River Energy Center," the release said. Scott Houldin, project manager, said, "Considering how close the vote was, it is obvious that Wiscasset residents want the economic development opportunity, but need to learn more about the details before giving the green light. That's something that can and will be done," Houldin said.

Opponents of the $1.5 billion coal plant, which developers want to build on land they purchased from Maine Yankee, included a citizens group called Back River Alliance, the Conservation Law Foundation, State Rep. Bruce MacDonald, and several members of Wiscasset's Comprehensive Plan Committee.

One of those committee members, Anne Leslie, issued a statement Wednesday morning, saying, "This issue should not be seen as dividing our town."

"This is not a vote against economic development. Wiscasset needs jobs and tax relief - in the form of appropriate development that doesn't threaten the town's reputation or its environment." A constant theme in Twin River's campaign to convince voters to approve the ordinance change raising the town's height limit was the promise of 200 permanent jobs and payment of 81 percent of the town's taxes.

Opponents, including the Back River Alliance and the Conservation Law Foundation, said the vote "will prevent plans to build a coal gasification plant and diesel fuel refinery."

The opponents called for "a state- wide ban on similar proposals."

State Rep. Bruce MacDonald of Boothbay has sponsored a bill (LR3033) that would prohibit construction of any new coal power plant in Maine that does not capture and store 90 percent of the greenhouse gasses it produces.

"We need good jobs and industry in the state," MacDonald said in a press release. "We need to work together to work at the local, state and national level to develop cleaner energy sources that do not make global warming worse…"

National RE/sources owns two pieces of property in town, including 33 acres where the Point East Maritime Village is under development, and the 440 acres where they hope to build the gasification plant.

"This is not a vote against Point East," Leslie said. "They are part of our town and we want them to succeed. This is a positive vote for responsible growth. This is a vote that shows how much pride the people of Wiscasset have in our clean river, our clean air, our beautiful village - and our hard-working fishermen."

A parade of fishing boats was held in the harbor several weeks ago to protest the building of the plant. Fishermen were concerned that they would no longer be able to set their lobster traps and fish in the river if huge coal barges start going up and down the Sheepscot River.

"This is a vote for a great future - a future in which Wiscasset and the region will grow in a way that protects and celebrates the assets that attract people and keep people in this magnificent place."

Recognizing the need for residents who wanted more details on the proposed plants, Twin River president Joseph Cotter said in a press release, "What we continued to hear from many people throughout the past few months is that they would like to support the project, but need detailed answers to some critical questions. We understand and appreciate that, and we're committed to providing those answers as soon as possible."

In other Wiscasset voting, a proposal to spend $25,000 for architect's studies on the town's three schools passed, 871 to 688.

In Woolwich, two selectmen were elected - Lloyd Coombs got the greatest number of votes, 556, followed by Dale Chadbourne with 368. Others who ran were Jack Albis, 174 votes, David King with 327 votes, and William Longley, Jr. with 232 votes. The vote on LD910 to join West Bath and Union 47 was 535 to 387.