BUCKSPORT — More than 300 residents filled the steamy Bucksport High School gymnasium Thursday evening for the continuation of the public hearings on Applied Energy Services’ power plant application.

Leading off the public comments was Nancy Allen, a Surry farmer and an organizer of the Green Party of Hancock County. She urged Bucksport’s Planning Board to reject the application. “This Planning Board has a unique opportunity to take an important step for Maine’s future,” Allen said.

The AES plant, Allen continued, “will increase ozone pollution in Maine. We already have too much pollution. Tough decisions must be made locally … and I urge you to reject this application.”

The public hearings are part of the license application procedure for the Virginia-based company. The company has proposed the construction of a $309 million plant upriver from the Champion International Corp. paper mill at Harriman Cove in Bucksport.

Pending state and federal approval, construction of the 180-megawatt plant is slated for early 1991 with completion scheduled for 1994. The plant would burn 1,500 tons of coal daily that would be shipped by barge via the Penobscot River.

Steam created in the cogeneration process would be purchased by Champion and electricity would be sold to the New England power grid.

Allen, who gave statistics citing the high level of ozone pollution in the county and at Acadia National Park, said that the pollutants can lead to crop loss and respiratory problems, particularly in children and the elderly.

The statistics, Allen continued, “show me that any increase in pollution should not be allowed in Hancock County … for the sake of the health and well-being of our citizens.

“In spite of AES’ assurances, how can (the plant’s operation) not affect the general health of people in Maine?” Allen asked.

Stuart Ryan, the project manager for AES, argued that the state-of-the-art plant will actually diminish the pollutants presently being emitted into the air. “With a new power plant here, an older and dirtier plant will not be operating,” he said.

Ryan also explained that continuous emission monitors would be placed on the plant’s stack. Those would then be monitored as well by state regulatory agencies.

Ryan agreed with a suggestion made by Bucksport code enforcement officer John Dunn that AES establish a fund for the town to secure outside help in its own monitoring of the cogeneration facility.

In response to questions about noise levels when the plant is unloading coal off barges, Ryan said that AES is prepared to comply with the state’s noise regulations. When asked if the hours of operation could be restricted to daytime only, Ryan replied that such a restriction would be a problem.