Harvard has had ongoing conversations with the plant’s owners about purchasing it since the deregulation law was passed, Vautin said. However he added that “serious discussions” have begun only recently.

Adding urgency to the negotiations is the fact that the plant is the only generation plant in the state covered by the law that has not yet been sold.

Mike Monahan, a spokesperson for NSTAR, said the Department of Telecommunications and Energy, has indicated that it desires the plant be sold as quickly as possible, a desire that he said is also shared by the company.

However, Monahan added that NSTAR is committed to selling the plant for the highest possible price. He said that the company has a responsibility to its customers and shareholders to obtain the highest value for the plant.

Neither Harvard nor NSTAR officials could provide the value of the plant or the asking price. Vautin said that the University currently pays approximately $9 million per year purchasing steam from the plant.

While Harvard’s past contracts with NSTAR for steam give the University a right to buy the plant before it is offered to other companies, Vautin said the potential exists if Harvard cannot come to agreement with NSTAR that the plant could be sold to another party.

“We are concerned [about the Blackstone plant] because this is our only source of heat,” Vautin said.