RisingTideVermont@gmail.com | (802) 448 2122                                                                                  Confronting the Root Causes of Climate Change
  • Home
  • About
  • News
  • Workshops and Trainings
  • Fracked Gas Pipeline
    • Week of Action for a Livable Planet! >
      • Training Weekend Schedule
    • Protect Geprags Petition
    • Ratepayers and the Pipeline
    • File a Complaint with DPS
  • Resources
    • Phase 1 Public Service Board Documents
    • Resources on the Economic and Environmental Impacts of Fracked Gas
    • Interactive Map
  • Photo Petitions
  • Wish List
  • Williston 6 Go To Trial

BREAKING: ANTICIPATING PERMITTING ANNOUNCEMENT, PIPELINE OPPONENTS DISRUPT VERMONT GAS CONSTRUCTION

9/17/2015

2 Comments

 
Picture
Contact: Maya Jarrad
Phone: (802) 598-2402
Email: Majauniv@gmail.com

ANTICIPATING PERMITTING ANNOUNCEMENT, PIPELINE OPPONENTS DISRUPT VERMONT GAS CONSTRUCTION

ESSEX, Vermont – September 17th, 2015 – Opponents of the Fracked Gas Pipeline have disrupted construction alongside Route 289 in Essex, with one person locking herself to equipment used by the new pipeline contractor Michel’s.

Vermont Gas has continued construction of the pipeline following a new contract with Michel’s, the highly controversial builder of the Keystone XL, despite regulatory uncertainty as the Public Service Board deliberates whether it will reopen and possibly revoke permits for the pipeline. The public Service Board is expected to make a decision as soon as this week.

“With drought and wild fires raging close to my family’s home in California, as well as flooding, hurricanes, and even threats to maple syrup production in my current home of Vermont, it is clear we need to be fighting the causes of climate disruption now” says Molly Stuart of Burlington, who locked herself to an excavator. “We can’t afford to be locked into any new fossil fuel infrastructure.”

The new contract with Michel’s follows a suit against Vermont Gas from their former contractor, Over & Under Piping, based in central New York State. The company, which terminated its contract with Vermont Gas earlier this year after completing only 5.6 miles of the 42-mile long project, is suing for $11.2 million related to costs associated with a five-month delay in the start of construction. [1]

“As a ratepayer to Vermont Gas, I cannot afford the price hikes that will likely offset the company’s $67 million cost over-run, let alone the environmental costs brought by the biggest expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure in the state,” added Stuart.

With a banner reading, “This Pipeline Ends with US,” protestors are taking things into their own hands because the regulatory board is dragging its feet and does not represent the people. [2]

“We’ve seen the Board repeatedly ignore concerns of landowners, ratepayers, and the public, and have little faith that they’ll do anything less than protect Vermont Gas’ ability to make profit at the expense of the climate,” says Jane Palmer of Monkton, whose land lies on the proposed route of the pipeline. Palmer added that several groups opposing the pipeline are mobilizing hundreds of community members to take action this fall, should the Board allow Vermont Gas to continue with the project as planned.

“If the Board is unwilling to shut down this dangerous, expensive, and undemocratic project, there are hundreds of Vermonters – working amilies paying gas bils, farmers fighting to protect their land – who are ready to do so,” said Jane Palmer.

Investments in efficiency and weatherization will save consumers the most over the long term. Infrastructure for meeting our fuel needs must be developed in a transparent, participatory and accountable process, and their benefits must be equitable.

Rising Tide Vermont

Rising Tide Vermont organizes and takes direct action to confront the root causes of climate change and to facilitate a just transition to resilient and equitable land-based communities. Risingtidevermont.org

###

Sources Cited

[1] http://vtdigger.org/2015/08/03/aarp-claims-vermont-gas-withheld-information-on-pipeline-contractor/

[2]http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/local/2015/07/23/vermont-gas-aarp-survey-pipeline-regulation/30589225/

For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Maya Jarrad at the contact info above. Photos available by request.
2 Comments
Grace Nichols
9/20/2015 12:46:32 am

Please send me updates. I may not be able to get to the nonviolence training on the 20th as I had planned. I want to attend future events. We have both the trains and the pipeline here in Albany, NY and we want to learn from you.

Reply
Deborah
2/1/2016 01:06:05 pm

Has anyone contacted Senator Bernie Sanders for help? I'm sure he could be of assistance. This issue is too important!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    June 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012

    Categories

    All
    Community Organizing
    Fracking
    Public Service Board
    Vermont Gas
    Vermont Gas Pipeline

    RSS Feed

Powered by
✕