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Resident urges Wells to coordinate with Sanford over proposed biosolids plant and large data center
Summary
A Wells resident told the Select Board she is concerned about a proposed biosolids gasification plant and a large data center in neighboring Sanford, citing truck traffic, prior denials in New Jersey, water use and noise; she asked the board and manager to contact Sanford officials.
During the meeting’s public-comment period, Wells resident Cheryl Mills urged the Select Board and town manager to reach out to Sanford officials about two proposed projects nearby: a biosolids gasification plant and a large data-center development.
Mills told the board she understood the biosolids firm had been denied a permit in New Jersey and warned the project could send about 20 trucks daily along Route 109 to Wells-area intersections. She also expressed concern that the proposed data center would require "millions of gallons of water daily" for cooling, could produce near‑constant generator noise and lead to impacts from mass tree-clearing.
Select Board members said they had contacted neighboring jurisdictions in prior regional projects and that the town manager had emailed Sanford officials seeking meetings and public hearings; staff reported receipt of a prompt reply from the applicant acknowledging the town’s outreach. Board members encouraged residents to attend regional informational events and said staff would follow up on opportunities for local public meetings and technical briefings.
Next steps: staff said they will ask Sanford officials for local opportunities for public input and will monitor any state or regional permitting materials. The Wells Reserve and local scientific groups plan to host informational sessions open to the public as additional fora for technical Q&A.
