Burrillville, RI — On Wednesday a group of activists embarked on a three day, 28 mile march from Burrillville to Providence to raise awareness about the proposed expansion to the ‘Algonquin’ natural gas pipeline. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued an initial construction permit for the project on Tuesday, but opponents of the project have vowed to keep up the fight.
The march kicked off at the site of a gas compressor station on Wallum Lake road in Burrillville. The compressor station, which pressurizes gas along the 1,000 mile pipeline, would nearly double in capacity as part of the expansion sought by Spectra Energy. Activists are concerned about the climate change implications of the project, and the impacts that local residents living near the pipeline route would face.
“The compressor station expansion in Burrillville alone would add the equivalent greenhouse gas emissions of 14,000 cars a year and substantially increase the pollutants pumped into the air this community breathes. This pipeline expansion must be stopped,” said Pia Ward, a member of FANG (Fighting Against Natural Gas), the group that organized the march.
Fellow FANG member Nick Katkevich said the goal of the march was to carry the voices of those most impacted by the Spectra expansion to decision makers in Providence. “It’s time Rhode Island’s elected leaders listen to the voices of those living along this pipeline route rather than fuel executives who are focused solely on profit.”
The group will march about eight miles a day and will travel south through Pascoag and then head towards Providence on Route 44. The march will make stops in Chepachet and Greenville before arriving in Providence Friday afternoon where several events and actions are planned.
Among the marchers are several Rhode Island residents along with activists from Massachusetts, Connecticut and from as far away as New York and Nebraska.
Jimmy Betts of Omaha, Nebraska, has joined the march. Jimmy walked across the country in 2014 for climate action. “Burrillville is not alone in the fight for clean air, water, and community sovereignty. We must broaden the conversation with other communities engaged in these struggles. They may appear local, but they have sweeping global impacts. We can only win this together.”
Members of the community are encouraged to walk a day, an hour, or even a few blocks as they are able. It is recommended to dress warmly. Vehicles will be available for those unable to walk, or who cannot walk long distances. Supporters can also join the marchers upon their arrival in Providence by meeting at 2pm outside of the State House.
Both National Grid and the Rhode Island congressional delegation have argued that the pipeline expansion is necessary to suppress gas price spikes during winter months, but as the region suffers through the coldest weather in nearly a century, gas prices have remained steady. Organizers of the march point to liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminals proposed for Maine and Canada as the real reason behind the pipeline expansion.
“This pipeline expansion isn’t about lowering domestic prices, it’s about a fossil fuel corporation trying to make the most profit possible – all while hurting communities, contributing to global climate change and blocking the development of cleaner energy sources” reflected Ward.