National Grid asked for public comment on their plan to build a LNG liquefaction system at the Fields Point LNG Plant on Providence’s South Side, and boy, did they get it. Representatives from the Providence Youth Student Movement (PrYSM), the Providence Student Union (PSU) and the Environmental Justice League of Rhode Island (EJLRI) took control of the room to conduct a peaceful speak out for the benefit of representatives from both National Grid and FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.)Julian Rodríguez-Drix of the EJLRI, did a great job outlining the dangers, from asthma to earthquakes. In under seven minutes Rodríguez-Drix basically presented every objection to the liquefaction expansion. He also told a chilling story of taking pictures of the LNG tank after the recent earthquake to see if it had suffered an damage, and his friend’s interrogation by the FBI as a result.
“This whole area is on the wrong side of the hurricane barrier. So a storm surge is just going to double back, protecting downtown, but hitting South Side doubly hard.”
Jesus Holguin of the EJLRI said, “All that pollution rains in our community, giving our community high rates of asthma.”
“So my mom just had a baby three weeks ago,” said Daniel, speaking on behalf of PrYSM. Daniel lives practically across the street from the proposed site. “You should already know that living there is not a safe place to raise a baby.”
Steven Roberts, of the EJLRI, openly doubted that the temporary construction jobs this project would create would impact his community at all. “We don’t know how many jobs have been set aside for folks in this disadvantaged community.”
“Slave ships create jobs, asbestos creates jobs, fracking creates jobs,” said Roberts, “we want people to have jobs and economic stability, but not on the backs of people who look like me…”
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