Raimondo meets with Burrillville residents to discuss power plant proposal
By Kirsten Glavin
@kirstenglavin
BURRILLVILLE, RI – The auditorium at Burrillville High school was overflowing Monday night, with people waiting in lines to get in and voice concerns over the proposed new power plant.
Dozens marched in with signs and t–shirts, chanting "No new power plant."
“There can be no compromise when it comes to public health and safety," one resident said at the podium inside.
Noise, air pollution, and climate change were just a few concerns brought up in the public discussion.
"We’ve been trying to fight it environmentally, and health wise with impact statements. We’re trying to find out what the balance of this is,” one protestor told ABC6 News.
"There’s going to be so much noise when trucks come through and all that,” said longtime resident, Andrew Larence.
"The power plant is going to ruin everything up there, especially Wakefield Pond," added his friend, Kyle Torpey.
Quality of water was also called into question. People in favor of building a new power plant were at the meeting, but were vastly outnumbered.
ABC6 spoke to one supporter, who argued the plant would bring much needed jobs. "Everybody needs a job. And these are serious jobs,” said Roy Coulombe of Local 37 Iron Workers. “These are 25 permanent jobs for people probably right out of here in the town of Burrillville.."
Governor Raimondo sat on panel, mostly listening to comments and concerns. She expressed full support for clean energy, but also acknowledged that affordable energy is high on her list.
"I’ve been a proponent of solar and wind, but in the meantime we need to keep our energy prices down for the average Rhode Islander. And natural gas is a way to do that,” she said.
The Governor also made it a point to stress that the project is not a done deal. She expects the discussion and testing processes will continue until early next year.
