The Port of Argentia and the Town of Placentia are at loggerheads as to how to proceed with the port’s Cooper Cove dock extension after Pattern Energy cancelled its multi-million dollar hydrogen project.

A public meeting was called last night by the Placentia Chamber of Commerce to discuss the situation.

Port seeking tax relief from town

The port is looking for tax relief from the town, but Mayor Jamie Neville says a tax break from the town will come nowhere near making up the $30 million shortfall. He says the province and private investors have to step up as well.

Neville went to the meeting prepared to defend the town’s position.

“The demise of this project is not the Town of Placentia. The demise of this project is Pattern pulling out the $30 million project, and as far as I’m concerned, the port will not accept other investors.

“I spoke after the meeting tonight, and after my little outburst with regards to what they did tonight to the town, to bash us, I walked out through that door and two investors in the town came out and assured me they can come up with the funds. That was just in a few minutes! ”

“So, what I’m saying all along is there’s other investors that can take part in this, but the port doesn’t want to lose their portion of the project. They don’t want to invest into this community like they say they do.”

Port CEO disputes town’s contention that taxes will need to be raised

Port of Argentia CEO Scott Penney says he’s looking for what he calls a “fairer” tax arrangement with the town, and he dismisses the mayor’s position that the difference will have to be made up by raising property and business taxes.

“We want to pay fairer taxes and to the mayor’s comment around raising taxes? I don’t agree with him. I think there’s a balance. As I said there’s a number, an average of maybe $160,000 a year, on a $7.5 million budget.”

“You can do some small things, and you can find that to see the advancement of an $85 million project, so I’m quite happy with tonight.”