Photo: Bethany Kwoka
November 5, 2019 (PROVIDENCE, RI) – Rhode Island’s Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB) released its official written decision today denying a permit necessary for the construction of Invenergy’s fracked gas and diesel oil plant in Burrillville. The official denial comes after the board announced its decision at a hearing in June. After years of legal challenges from CLF and residents, the plant will not be built.
“As we said in June, this is a huge victory for Rhode Island and for the health of our communities,” said CLF Senior Attorney Jerry Elmer. “In the face of climate emergency, opening a fossil fuel plant that will spew carbon pollution for decades is simply reckless. After years of lies and misinformation, Invenergy’s efforts to pave over a forest to build this dirty plant have been dealt a substantial loss. This is proof that communities can stand up to big gas and win.”
Invenergy’s proposed plant would have been built in a critical forest habitat in Burrillville, and it would have burned climate-damaging fracked gas and diesel oil to produce electricity. In September 2018, New England’s electric grid operator terminated its contract with Invenergy, further proving that the region does not need the power that would come from the plant.
CLF has been fighting alongside residents of Burrillville and environmental activists to prevent the construction of Invenergy’s plant for years, including mounting several legal challenges. You can read more about that fight here.
The EFSB decision can be found here.
CLF experts are available for further comment.
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