Lockdown in Rhode Island Against Compressor Station

from FANG

Update: The two arresstees are being charged with trespass and restitution is being sought. The pair held their lockdown until cut out at the hospital.

Burillville, RI — On Thursday morning Peter Nightingale, a Professor of Physics at the University of Rhode Island and Curt Nordgaard, a pediatrician from Massachusetts were arrested after locking themselves to the front gate of Spectra Energy’s fracked-gas compressor station in Burillville, Rhode Island. The activists engaged in the act of civil disobedience to protest and delay Spectra’s plan to expand fracked-gas infrastructure in Burrillville and across the region.

The activists also sounded the alarm about the proposed $700 million gas power plant that would be built on Spectra’s property in Burrillville and a $100 LNG facility planned for Providence.

“I’m taking action today because as a parent and a being pediatrician compels me to use any and all nonviolent means to stop this project,” said Nordgaard.

The protest was the latest in an escalating series of actions against Spectra Energy, which plans to expand fracked-gas infrastructure in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, beginning with the so-called ‘Algonquin’ Incremental Market (or AIM) project.

Activists and community members along the routes of the pipelines and compressor stations slated for expansion have increasingly opposed Spectra’s projects. Residents cite health and safety concerns as well as the climate change implications of an increase in the extraction, transportation, and burning of fracked-gas.

“The fugitive methane emissions make fracked-gas worse for the climate then coal or oil. This type of gas is not a clean energy solution or progress in any way.” Said Susan Walker of Pawtucket who demonstrated outside of the compressor station during the action.

In addition to being the site of one of the compressor stations Spectra plans to expand – resulting in an increase in toxic emissions and an increased danger of explosion – Burillville has also been the site of some of the most significant resistance to the project so far, including a tree-sit in May intended to stop the clearing of trees ahead of construction on the station.

Earlier in July Spectra announced plans to expand the compressor station in Burrillville a second time as part of the $3 billion ‘Access Northeast” project. On August 4th Rhode Island Gina Raimondo’s formal announcement of plans to build a 900-mega watt gas pant was met with demonstrations.

Activists and residents have vowed to continue their nonviolent campaign to prevent Spectra from completing their expansion projects.

“The shale gas projects of Spectra Energy and Invenergy in Burrillville and National Grid’s LNG plans for Fields Point result from a national energy plan based on bad science. We will keep taking action until these projects are stopped” reflected Professor Nightingale.

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