Final Hearings Begin for Invenergy’s Proposed Power Plant in Burrillville
GoLocalProv News Team
Final Hearings Begin for Invenergy’s Proposed Power Plant in Burrillville
The Rhode Island Energy Facility Siting Board has set the schedule for the final hearing of the Invenergy Thermal Development LLC’s application to build the Clear River Energy Center Power Plant in Burrillville.“We are relieved to see the final hearings start. This is an issue of importance to the entire state, and in fact, most cities and towns and the attorney general have filed resolutions in opposition,” said Michael C. Wood, Burrillville Town Manager.
Hearings Begin
On Thursday, April 26, opening statements were made to the EFSB by Special Counsel Michael R. McElroy for the Town of Burrillville, Attorney Jerry Elmer for the Conservation Law Foundation, Michael S. Blazer, Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer for Invenergy LLC.
According to the Rhode Island Energy Facility Siting Board, “ the purpose of the final hearing is to present this case: the plant is not needed, is not cost-justified and would cause unacceptable harm to the environment. The Town has a very strong case. The Town’s independent experts will be heard by the EFSB, which is legally commissioned to reach a fair and impartial decision. The EFSB must be purposeful in its consideration of the proposal - and the Town of Burrillville believes that, when the EFSB hears the testimony, and considers the voices of 31 cities and towns, it will rule that the plant is not needed and will cause unacceptable harm to the state’s environment.”
Future Hearings
The final hearing stage itself continues throughout the late summer and fall of 2018. The EFSB has tentatively scheduled the final hearing to continue to the following dates:
July 19, 24 and 25
August 15, 16, 21, 22 and 23
September 4, 5, 6, 12, 18, 20, 26 and 27
October 10, 16, 17, 30 and 31
All sessions of the final hearing are scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. at Hearing Room A of the Public Utilities Commission office building, 89 Jefferson Boulevard, Warwick, Rhode Island unless posted otherwise.
GoLocal: Benchmark Poll, October 2017
Sponsor: GoLocalProv
Sample: N=403
Rhode Island General Election Voters Margin of Error: +/- 4.9% at 95% Confidence Level
Interviewing Period: October 9-11, 2017
Mode: Landline (61%) and Mobile (39%)
Telephone Directed by: John Della Volpe, SocialSphere, Inc.
Are you registered to vote at this address?
Yes: 100%
When it comes to voting, do you consider yourself to be affiliated with the Democratic Party, the Republican Party, Moderate, or Unaffiliated with a major party?
Unaffiliated: 49%
Democrat: 32%
Republican: 15%
Moderate: .4%
Next year, in November of 2018, there will be a statewide general election for Governor and many other state offices. How likely is it that you will vote in this election?
Will you definitely be voting, will you probably be voting, are you 50-50...
Definitely be voting: 78%
Probably be voting: 13%
50-50: 9%
In general, would you say things in Rhode Island are headed in the right direction or are they off on the wrong track?
Right track: 39%
Wrong track: 45%
Mixed: 10%
Don't know/Refused: .6%
What would you say is the number one problem facing Rhode Island that you would like the Governor to address?
Jobs and economy: 21%
Education: 12%
Taxes: 12%
Roads: 12%
State budget: 9%
Corruption/Public integrity: .8%
Healthcare: 3%
Governor: 3%
Homelessness: 2%
Immigration: 2%
Other: 7%
Don’t know: .9%
Over the past three years or so, would you say the economy in Rhode Island has improved, gotten worse, or not changed at all?
Changed for the better: 35%
Changed for the worse: 16%
Not changed at all: 43%
Don't know/Refused: 5%
Over the same time, has your family's financial situation improved, gotten worse, or not changed at all?
Changed for the better: 26%
Changed for the worse: 19%
Not changed at all: 54%
Don't know/Refused: 1%
Recently, a proposal has been made to permit the issuance of $81 million in bonds by the State to build a new stadium for the Pawtucket Red Sox. If there was an election today on this issue, would you vote to approve or reject issuing $81 million in financing supported moral obligation bonds to build the stadium?
Net: Approve: 28%
Definitely approve: 15%
Probably approve: 14%
Net: Reject: 67%
Probably reject: 19%
Definitely reject: 48%
Don't know: 4%
Could you please tell me your age?
18-24: 7%
25-34: 15%
35-44: 15%
45-54: 20%
55-64: 17%
65+: 25%
Don't know/refused: 1%
What was the last grade you completed in school?
0-11: 2%
High school grad: 16%
Technical/Vocational school: 1%
Some college: 23%
College grad: 34%
Graduate degree: 24%
Don't know/refused: 1%
The next question is about the total income of YOUR HOUSEHOLD for the PAST 12 MONTHS. Please include your income PLUS the income of all members living in your household (including cohabiting partners and armed forces members living at home).
$50,000 or less: 27%
More $50,000 but less than $75,000: 13%
More $75,000 but less than $100,000: 13%
More $100,000 but less than $150,000: 17%
$150,000 or more: 13%
Don't know/refused: 17%
What particular ethnic group or nationality - such as English, French, Italian, Irish, Latino, Jewish, African American, and so forth - do you consider yourself a part of or feel closest to?
American/None: 21%
English: 13%
Italian: 13%
Irish: 12%
Black or African American: 6%
Latino/Hispanic: 6%
French: 6%
Portuguese: 3%
Jewish: 3%
German: 1%
Would you say that Donald Trump has done an excellent good, fair or poor job as President?