Power plant will figure in campaigns
WALPOLE - As the election season takes shape, a power plant proposed for South Walpole is already figuring into the campaign.
Candidates for everything from Town Meeting member to the state Senate have positioned the proposal by Competitive Power Ventures Inc. as a major plank in their platforms.
But one candidate who won't be weighing in on the controversial proposal for the 580-megawatt, gas-fired facility is Town Moderator Jon Rockwood, who, by virtue of his elected position, must remain neutral. That holds true even though Rockwood has launched a campaign to unseat incumbent state Senator James Timilty, a Walpole Democrat who has blasted the power plant plan.
"I'm running for this seat, not against him, and I bring a background," said Rockwood, a lawyer and former intelligence research analyst with the National Security Agency in Washington, who is also running for reelection as moderator.
Rockwood said he was approached months ago by the state GOP. "The thought of running for a state seat had never occurred to me," he said. "I have loved being moderator."
Although there have been cases where CPV has endorsed candidates in other parts of the country, a spokesman said the power company will not back anyone in Walpole.
The company, which has corporate offices in Braintree and Maryland, proposed the power plant last year. Selectmen rejected it, and CPV has since sought to revise its proposal to win public favor.
Timilty's reelection bid is for a third two-year term in the Norfolk and Bristol seat, representing Dover, Foxborough, Mansfield, Medfield, Norton, Rehoboth, Seekonk, Walpole, and parts of Attleborough and Sharon.
It appears that Rockwood will be Timilty's only challenger. Rockwood was the only candidate to file the needed 300 signatures as of midafternoon Tuesday, according to state election officials. The deadline was day's end. The next step will be to certify the signatures.
Timilty recently attached an amendment to an energy bill that prohibits power plants within a mile of a playground, licensed day-care center, school, church, residential area, or any other place of "critical environmental concern." The ban would cover Walpole, East Bridgewater, West Bridgewater, Easton, and Brockton, all where another power plant is proposed. While the Senate approved it, the measure has lagged in the House.
Rockwood acknowledges that his silence on the power plant issue may be an electoral handicap.
"And that may hurt me," he admitted. "But I don't have a very firm position. I do realize the town needs business development, and it is an opportunity to take in a lot of money. On the other hand, there are a lot of concerns about what's best for Walpole."
Timilty see his opposition to the plant as a plus, given, he said, that some 2,000 residents have asked him to seek the amendment limiting where power plants can be located. And, he said, selectmen have done a good job of deciding the issue locally.
"It's been pretty unanimous in asking me to oppose the siting of this plant," Timilty said. "People were passionate and concerned. We were able to pass an amendment to the Green Energy Bill in six weeks. I was proud of that. If that's the issue, that's the issue."
But Timilty said he is also proud of his broader record, which includes healthcare reform. Today, 340,000 previously uncovered state residents are now insured, he said.
"Now we have to get our hands around the costs of direct care and ancillary costs." "We face troubling times, but I've had successes in delivery," he said.
Rockwood is still developing his platform of issues. He said recently that he is struck by the diversity of the district and looks forward to serving it.
Michele Morgan Bolton can be reached at: mmbolton1@verizon.net
