Progressive News, Opinion, and Analysis
Debating a proposed gas-fired power plant in Burrillville, Jon Brien says the United States will never ween itself off fossil fuels. I say he would have discouraged the Wright brothers from trying to fly on this week’s segment of NBC 10 Wingmen.
Sheldon Whitehouse was Bill Rappleye’s guest, who said it would be wrong to say he supports the proposed fossil fuel power plant. More on this later, if I can get the video from NBC10.
Last week Fossil Free RI sent out a press release on occasion of its launching of a campaign urging the Rhode Island Department of Health to block the expansion of the natural gas pipeline expansion in Rhode Island. As of this writing, the campaign is gathering steam, generated by green, grass roots energy. So far, the Green Party of Rhode Island, Rhode island Clean Water Action and Occupy Providence have signed on. Other organizations are in the process of formalizing the interest they expressed for doing the same.
At a screening of film-maker/activist Robert Malin’s new documentary, “People’s Climate March: News You Didn’t See,” Fossil Free Rhode Island, a local climate advocacy group, announced plans to petition the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) to block the proposed build-out of a compressor station in Burrillville. The build-out is part of Spectra Energy Corp’s “Algonquin Incremental Market (or AIM) Project,” a proposed major expansion of a pipeline carrying fracked gas from Pennsylvania to southern New England. Fossil Free RI has drawn up a petition and letter addressed to Dr. Michael Fine, RIDOH’s Director, and is requesting a meeting with him.
According to the letter, “Not only is this project part of a national energy policy that is potentially ruinous for life on Earth, but it poses an imminent threat to the safety and health of the people of Rhode Island.” The letter goes on to state: “Expanding our natural gas infrastructure is likely to accelerate climate change, which carries a plethora of health risks. At best, the project would delay the decarbonization of the Rhode Island power sector; at worst, it could be one of many disastrous missteps that will send the world over the ‘climate cliff’ in the next few years. By locking us into decades of increased dependence on fossil fuels, the AIM Project flies in the face of the Resilient Rhode Island Act of 2014 and the increasingly urgent calls from scientists to move away from fossil fuels.”
In addition to the threat of global warming, the activists cite immediate health concerns. Maps created by the RI Department of Health already show a higher prevalence of asthma insurance claims in the section of Burrillville near the compressor station, which is a “major source of hazardous air pollutants,” according to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement on the project.
Lauren Niedel of Chepachet said:
Knowing that my neighbors are already getting sick here, I don’t understand why the Department of Health hasn’t stopped this. We need DoH to speak up and help us now, before Spectra bulldozers once again plow us under with all their money and influence.
Marie Schopac, a Fossil Free RI member from Charlestown, said:
AIM aims to put money in the pockets of fossil fuel corporations, which have historically disregarded human health. Why should we believe them now that this is safe?
Peer reviewed public health literature shows that there are correlations between health impacts and residential proximity to compressor stations. Indeed, many toxic chemicals –including precursors to ozone, which is linked to asthma– are strongly associated with such facilities.
As Peter Nightingale, Professor of Physics at the University of Rhode Island stated:
We need an immediate end to uncontrolled experiments that threaten public health in Rhode Island and the habitability of the planet.
For the extensively documented FFRI letter to the Rhode Island Department of Health click here.
More than 1,000 environmental activists from all over New England are planning a direct action at Brayton Point power station near Fall River on Sunday. Civil disobedience will be utilized in hopes of shutting down the largest coal plant in New England that is a major source of air and water pollution.
There is a “mandatory” training in Providence on Saturday for those “risking arrest.”
According to the website JoinSummerHeat.org, “We will call for Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and others to immediately close the Brayton Point coal plant and ensure a just transition for workers and host communities towards a healthy and sustainable future.”
Brayton Point is in Somerset, Mass on Narragansett Bay, right on Rhode Island’s border. While Massachusetts’ largest source of carbon dioxide pollutes the entire northeast, the Ocean State is particularly at risk because Brayton Point is so close; it pollutes directly into Narragansett Bay and it’s air pollution is literally visible from as far away as South County.
The protest is part of the nationwide grassroot effort to call attention to the fossil fuel industry’s role in climate change and environmental and economic degradation organized by 350.org. Occupy Providence, Occupy Fall River, Fossil Free Rhode Island and the Brown (University) Divest Coal Campaign, among many others, have all promoted the event.
There is a sign-making party tonight in Providence and there will be a training in Rhode Island on Saturday for those who hope to be arrested. See this link for details.
“The training schedule on the 27th includes choreographed practice for the action, preparation for jail support, affirmation of action agreements, training in nonviolent direct action, a conversation with representatives of the National Lawyers Guild, time for forming action support groups, snacks, dinner, and more!” according to Occupy Providence’s website.
“Brayton Point is the largest coal-fired power plant in New England, and at full capacity it’s the largest source of carbon dioxide emissions in Massachusetts. In 2010, it poured 6.3 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere,” according to SummerHeatBraytonPoint.org. “We can transition away from coal through increased efficiency standards and a strengthened renewable energy portfolio (including visionary projects like Cape Wind). We also need worker retraining and tax support for communities like Somerset and Fall River that have long borne the costs of coal.”
In 1776, Rhode Island was the first colony to declare its independence from the British. In 2013, it is time for Rhode Island to become the first state to declare its independence from fossil fuels.
Fossil Free Rhode Island (FFRI), a growing group made up of community members and alumni, faculty and students from Rhode Island’s colleges is calling on the State of Rhode Island to divest from fossil fuels.
“Every day that goes by without action, means that more and more fossil fuels are being extracted and burned, leading to the wreckage of the climate and the poisoning of our communities,” explained Sherrie’Anne André. “Rhode Island has a moral obligation to act, and the time to act is now.”
FFRI has an ongoing campaign to convince the administrations of the University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College and the Community College of Rhode Island to divest from the fossil fuel industry. FFRI, joining forces with the divestment movements at the Rhode Island School of Design and Brown University, recently celebrated the Providence City Council’s decision to commit to fossil fuel divestment. Now that the City of Providence has committed to divestment, the time is ripe for the State of Rhode Island to make history, once again, by divesting its multi-billion dollar pension fund from the fossil fuel industry.
The following are just a few examples of the surprisingly rapid growth of the fossil fuel divestment movement:
FFRI cites the following motivations for divestment:
Indeed, as the divestment movement gains traction, a growing number of politicians are voicing their support. Meanwhile, investors across the globe are contemplating the results of over-valuation of oil, coal and gas reserves held by fossil fuel companies and the uncertainty of their future.
With more coastline per square mile than any other state, Rhode Island suffers disproportionately from the worsening reality of climate change. Ocean acidification, sea level rise and extreme weather events have already taken a heavy toll on our communities. Citing this reality in its recently started petition drive FFRI declares: “We must act now to avoid catastrophe. […] We, the People of Rhode Island, urge our leaders to divest all state funds from fossil fuels to protect our future.”
