What Does Burrillville Power Plant Mean for Narragansett & South Kingstown?

NARRAGANSETT, RI—Burrillville has been fighting a plan to build a power plant in Town. Recently, it has appeared the plant has overcome one obstacle since the Town of Johnston agreed to provide the Invenergy project with water. Johnston buys water from Providence and plans to resell it.

Johnston's Mayor Joseph Polisena says it's all legal, and there's nothing the Providence Water Board can do to stop him.

Meanwhile, the Burrillville Land Trust and conservationists, who opposes the power plant, are taking their message around the state to explain why this deal is bad for Rhode Island.

"The proposed power plant is a 1-gigawatt fracked gas diesel oil fired power plant that could be built in the middle of the woods in northwestern Rhode Island," according to Land Trust's Facebook events page. "If built, the Invenergy project will destroy 200 acres of land near Echo Lake, Wallum Lake, Buck Hill Management area, George Washington Park and land owned by the Burrillville Land Trust," the Land Trust said. "Many are protected properties purchased by voter approved Open Space bond referendums."

The free presentation, set for Feb. 7 at 6:30 p.m. at Hera Gallery, 10 High St., Wakefield, will delve into the impacts statewide.

"The power plant will not reduce your electric bill, but will impact your health, safety and make it impossible for Rhode Island municipalities to meet their greenhouse gas reductions as required by the Resilient Rhode Island Act," the Land Trust added. "So why is this power plant being built? And what are the impacts to South County and other towns and cities in this region?"

The Burrillville Land Trust along with the Rhode Island Association of Conservation Commissions are the sponsors. The doors open at 6:15 p.m.

"To date, 20 municipalities have come out with resolutions opposing the citing and permitting of the 1 - gigawatt fracked gas diesel oil fired power plant," the Land Trust said.

Courtesy Photo: Burrillville Land Trust