Former governor Chafee declares opposition to power plant
opinions on Invenergy’s new water supply.
In addition to the Burrillville building inspector, the Rhode Island Department of Health, Department of Environmental Management, Department of Transportation and Statewide Planning will have four months to provide supplemental advisory opinions to address the impacts of the proposed new water plan and gaps identified in the original advisory opinions.
Specifically, the town of Burrillville will be asked to provide an advisory opinion on the impact of Invenergy’s new water plan and an analysis of additional information submitted by the power company regarding soil erosion, sediment control, stormwater management and building plans.
Meanwhile, Statewide Planning will be asked to address all 18 elements of the state guide plan including environmental issues such as biodiversity, impact on wildlife and ecosystems and recreational considerations. (EFSB) and will ask that they be considered as “an important part” of the evidence presented by the town in its opposition to $700 million Clear River Energy Center.
“We are encouraged that our fellow municipalities are joining us in opposing this facility,” said Burrillville Town Council President John Pacheco. “The cumulative impact of over 33 communities standing together in opposition sends a powerful message – one that we hope cannot be ignored. The Town of Burrillville is united in its opposition, and we are fortunate to have an engaged and committed group of residents who have given time and energy to take our plea for help to other communities.”
Pacheco say the town continues to maintain its position that Invenergy’s new water plan in partnership with the town of Johnston changes the processing methods of the power plant and includes process that were not known to the Town, the EFSB, or the other agencies that provided advisory opinions to the EFSB back in September of 2016.
On March 21, the EFSB voted to ask for five supplemental advisory
BURRILLVILLE – While Gov. Gina Raimondo has yet to take a firm stance on Invenergy’s proposed 1,000-megawatt power plant in Pascoag, former Gov. Lincoln Chafee says he will support the opposition’s campaign to stop the project.
Chafee, Rhode Island’s governor from 2011 to 2015 and a candidate for president in 2016, recently joined Burrillville Land Trust Chairman Paul A. Roselli and opposition members Jason Olkowski and Cindy Lussier on a tour of the proposed power plant site.
The meeting with Chafee was set up by Lussier, who hopes Chafee’s support lends a little star power to the opposition movement.
“The governor was so moved by the tour, knowledge and dedication that he wanted to be on the list of those in opposition to the power plant,” Roselli said. “Needless to say, we put him on the list.”
Also on that list are three of Rhode Island’s environmental organizations – The Nature and towns have now adopted resolutions of opposition.
Burrillville attorney Michael R. McElroy is preparing to forward a supplemental package with those resolutions of oppositions to the state Energy Facility Siting Board Conservancy, Save The Bay and the Audubon Society – which came together at a March 8 Statehouse press conference to make their case that the fossil-fuel power plant would pollute the state for decades.
Thirty-two of the state’s 39 cities