Plans are moving forward with the Penobscot River Restoration Project, and a number of opportunities for public comment have been scheduled.

Some workshops are scheduled to start Jan. 26.

Organizers hope that residents and panelists for each workshop will share ideas on the natural history of the river, as well as offer suggestions for economic development opportunities.

“I think there’ll be a lot of give and take,” Laura Mitchell of Eastern Maine Development Corp. said Friday. EMDC is leading the comprehensive economic planning surrounding the project.

Gov. John Baldacci unveiled the project in October 2003 as the first step in a multimillion-dollar program to bring development opportunities to area communities and businesses.

PPL Corp. of Allentown, Pa., has agreed to sell its Great Works Dam in Old Town and the Veazie and Howland dams for $25 million to a nonprofit group established by the project. In return, the project must promise that it will not fight the company’s efforts to relicense its other dams.

The total cost of the project is estimated at $50 million.

The workshops, which each will feature four panelists, will allow people a chance to learn about different aspects of the river while offering suggestions about the restoration.

Workshops will be held at the following times and locations:

. Culture and history of the river, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 26, Penobscot Nation Community Building gymnasium, Indian Island.

. The natural setting of the river, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 1, Eddington Salmon Club.

. The built environment and business opportunities on the river, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 9, Old Town High School cafetorium.

Summaries of each workshop will be posted at the Eastern Maine Development Corp. Web site, www.emdc.org.

An economic visioning session will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 5, at the Veazie Community School. The purpose of the session will be to brainstorm ideas for the economic future of the river.

The project’s steering committee, which is made up of officials from towns along the river and various state officials, will then present the ideas to a market research firm. The firm will then determine the feasibility of implementing some of those plans.

Public comment is an important part of the restoration project and there will be more opportunity for community comment as the project advances, according to organizers.

For more information, call Laura Mitchell or Michael Bush at EMDC at 942-6389.