Frary proposes Maine oil refinery, fears obstruction by ‘enviro-kooks’

John Frary, a Farmington selectman running for the Second Congressional District, is calling for an oil refinery to be built at the former Loring Air Force Base in Limestone.

Frary, a Republican, is challenging U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud.

He said such a project would bring economic development to the area, claiming support from Republican state Sens. Peter Mills, Doug Smith and Roger Sherman, however he sees hurdles afoot.

Click here for his full plan (PDF).

“What businessmen don’t want is for this to turn into a 5-year regulatory opera. That said, won’t the enviro-kooks gas up their SUVs and drive to Augusta to block the project with every shyster shenanigan they can dream up? Sure they will—and I relish the prospect of showing them the errors of their ways. If Canada can do it, why not us?” Frary said in a release.

Frary said the technology is there – Cianbro is currently building a refinery in Brewer to ship to Texas. The pipelines are in place, he said.

“The ExxonMobil line crosses the Searsport Loring Pipeline in Hamden. It has rights to install additional pipelines in its corridor. There are extensive rail links to Canada and New England. I've read an estimate on 3 cents per gallon from Searsport to Loring. This is an old one and it must be higher now,” Frary said. “The government possesses title over much of the existing infrastructure. The Maine Port Authority already oversees offloading in Searsport.”

He said he is not sure if the resources exist for such a project, however, “I suggest no more than this: that such a project be seriously discussed and the problems addressed with a view to solutions, not obstructions."