The briefing was a response to over 30 motions by businesses, town select boards, individual landowners and advocacy groups. VGS accepted nearly every motion to intervene, but outright rejected the efforts of Vermont Intergenerational Stewards (VIS), a grassroots group. The PSB also limited the participation of landowners and the Vermont Fuel Dealers Association.
VIS sought to represent the rights and interests of youth and future generations along the pipeline route and in Chittenden and Addison counties. According to their motion to intervene, VIS’ main concerns with the project are the continued dependence on fossil fuels in the state; the impacts of hydraulic fracturing for gas on air and water quality; and the resulting impacts on climate change.
“Vermont banned fracking in 2012, but also included expanded use of fracked natural gas in the 2011 Comprehensive Energy Plan,” said Rebecca Foster, a mother of two children and representative of VIS. ”It is hypocritical of the state to say no to fracking here and to expect communities elsewhere to bear the burden of destruction for Vermont’s supposed benefit.”
Read More...