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Burrillville continues to fight the power plant

Progress is slow but steady –
Posted on: August 3, 2017 - 11:08am

Here in the Town of Burrillville, we first learned about the proposed Clear River Energy Center power plant over two years ago. It has been a long process – longer than anticipated, perhaps because of the diligence of the Town’s experts’ review throughout. The Town Council understands that the best way for the Town to defeat this proposal is to make a solid, fact-based case to the Energy Facility Siting Board (EFSB). We also believe the system (process) needs to be changed but in the meantime we must use the official process, as it exists, to continue the battle. It’s our best shot at success.

Here are some of the Town’s key activities and subsequent official response.

SB 2015-06 Invenergy Thermal Development LLC’s Application to Construct the Clear River Energy Center Power Plant in Burrillville, RI (filed October 29, 2015)

  • The Town has filed thirty-two data requests (totaling about 300 questions) – these, along with the responses, are available for public review on the EFSB website and the Town website
  • In their advisory opinions to the Energy Facility Siting Board, the proposed location for the CREC was not endorsed by Burrillville Planning Board, Zoning Board of Review and Building Official. The advisories by Town agencies, as well as State boards and departments, are posted by the EFSB.
  • The Town has filed a number of motions, including two motions to dismiss the application: the September 2016 motion was denied; the July 13, 2017 motion is pending. Link here for the Town’s motion and here for Invenergy’s objection.

SB 2017-01 The Narragansett Electric Company d/b/a National Grid and Clear River Energy, LLC's Joint Application to Construct the Burrillville Interconnection Project in Burrillville, Rhode Island (filed February 22, 2017)

  • National Grid filed a motion for expedited hearing. At the Town’s objection, the Energy Facility Siting Board denied National Grid’s request, stating that “The Board finds no reason to advance any final decision on the proposed interconnection before a final decision is made on the proposed CREC.”

Town of Burrillville filed a complaint against Clear River Energy LLC and the Town of Johnston, RI (filed March 6, 2017)

  • The Town asked the Rhode Island Superior Court to Issue a Declaratory Judgment declaring that Johnston has no legal right under the 1915 Act to obtain water from Providence for resale to Invenergy for use in its proposed power plant located in Burrillville. Clear River Energy LLC filed a motion to dismiss, which the Court denied.

Town of Burrillville
105 Harrisville Main Street
Harrisville, RI  02830
401-568-4300
lphaneuf@burrillville.org