BUCKSPORT — As the cost of energy from traditional sources soars, one local town is looking for alternatives.

The Bucksport Town Council voted unanimously at its Dec. 13 meeting to approve a resolution creating an energy committee for the town.

The committee would investigate alternative energy and conservation projects.

“I think we have an obligation to our citizens to pursue this,” Town Manager Roger Raymond told the council.

The idea for the committee arose about a year ago when the council authorized Raymond to pursue the possibility of using wind power to provide electricity for several publicly owned facilities in Bucksport.

Since then, the city has received several proposals from companies that build wind turbines.

One possible wind power site was the town’s wastewater treatment facility. Another was proposed at the middle school.

The energy committee would review these proposals as well as investigate other alternative energy sources, such as natural gas and geothermal energy.

Bucksport may someday be able to establish its own municipal power company, said Economic Development Director Dave Milan.

He added that lower energy costs could make Bucksport an attractive location to new businesses, particularly those in the manufacturing industry.

“One of Maine’s biggest challenges for attracting new businesses is the cost of electricity,” Milan said. The cost of a kilowatt-hour of electricity in Maine can be more than double that of other regions of the country.

Milan would be an energy committee member. The committee would also include members of the town’s Finance Committee, a representative from the Bucksport Bay Healthy Communities Coalition, a representative from the Economic Development Committee, a representative from the Chamber of Commerce and a minimum of three citizens at large.

Once formed, the energy committee would serve at the pleasure of the Town Council and would report its findings monthly at council meetings.