Archambault, Conley lose Sierra Club endorsement over Burrillville bill

State senators Stephen Archambault and Bill Conley lost their endorsements from the Rhode Island chapter of the Seirra Club because they voted against the Burrillville power plant bill as members of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

“Sierra Club condemns every member of the committee that voted ‘no’ to this bill, but we are especially disappointed in Sen. Archambault and Sen. Conley. Both senators were endorsed by the RI Sierra Club in 2014,” wrote Sierra Club political chair Aaron Jaehnig.

“With a record like this, they will not be endorsed again in 2016. Sierra Club demands that our logo be removed from all websites and campaign materials for both,” Jaehnig continued. “The people of Burrillville and the people of Rhode Island deserved better. Make no mistake – that vote was a betrayal of everyone who cares about our planet, and of future generations of Rhode Islanders. It represents an insane double-down on the dangerous fossil fuel economy that has taken our climate to the brink and that threatens all of our futures.”

Neither senator could be immediately reached for comment. This post will be updated if and when they respond to comment.

On Wednesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted down a bill that would have given Burrillville residents a vote on a tax agreement between Invenergy, the corporation that seeks to build the power plant, and the Republican town council. Residents convinced legislators Cale Keable and Paul Fogarty to introduce the legislation because they say they can’t trust the town council to negotiate in good faith.

At the first committee hearing, Archambault was dismissive of this concern, saying, “The town council, at large, has been elected and is in a position to best negotiate tax treaties.”