TIM FAULKNER/ecoRI News staff
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| Narragansett Tribal Council member Randy Noka at protest against Invenergy power plant (photo from RI Future) |
Delays keep piling up for the
fossil-fuel power plant proposed for Burrillville, as the Energy Facilities
Siting Board (EFSB) has agreed to postpone the application process another 90
days.
The latest delay came after a
four-hour hearing on Nov. 27 to address four motions from opponents to amend or
dismiss the $1 billion project.
The Conservation Law Foundation
(CLF) was granted its request for updated reviews from the the Office of
Statewide Planning and the Office of Energy Resources.
The motion was submitted by CLF
after Invenergy Thermal Development revealed that one of the power plant’s two
turbines was shut out of an annual electricity auction.
CLF and the town of Burriillville
criticized Invenergy for waiting five weeks to divulge the decision by the
operator of the regional power grid, ISO New England, to preclude half of the
power generation from the yet-to-built power plant.
Invenergy’s failure to sell its
power into the grid likely delays the completion date for the nearly
1,000-megawatt project by one year, to at least 2021. Construction can only
begin if the application is approved by the EFSB. With the 90-day delay, a
decision on the application isn't likely until June.
EDITOR’S NOTE: In other developments specifically affecting Charlestown, the Westerly Sun reported new detail on the controversial deal made by Narragansett Medicine Man John Brown with Invenergy. Now, it seems the water may not be drawn in Charlestown, but possibly from Crandall Farm in Westerly, owned by the Tribe for possible use as a hemp farm.
It's a distinction without a difference since Crandall Farm sits atop the same Wood River aquifer that provides Charlestown’s water. Though the Sun says this new information may call in question Charlestown’s intervenor status in this matter, I think it opens the door for Westerly to join the case.
This information, and more, comes from an October 24 letter written by absentee Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas. The letter was submitted to the EFSB by the lawyer for the elected Narragansett Tribal Council members who are challenging Thomas for leadership of the Tribe.
We also now know the potential water draw per day could run from 15,000 to 725,000 gallons. The Tribe will receive an annual flat fee of $220,000 plus the cost of water calculated at the prevailing municipal rate. – Will Collette
The decision by ISO New England
marks the third year that Invenergy has been unable to sell its electric
capacity. Elmer noted that the ruling likely hurts financing for the
natural-gas/diesel project and even allows ISO New England to pull back its agreement
to buy electricity from the turbine it already promised to buy.
Invenergy insists that there will be
ample demand for electricity from both turbines once older New England power
plants retire. Attorney Alan Shoer said Chicago-based Invenergy funds many
large energy projects.
“There is no question they have the
ability to finance the project,” he said.
Either way, the EFSB granted time
for more analysis of the power-plant proposal.
The EFSB rejected a request by the
Narragansett Indian Tribal Council to serve as an intervenor in the application
review process. The Narragansett Indian Tribe argued that the decision to sell
water to Invenergy was made illegally by tribal leaders without consent from
the council.
However, EFSB chairwoman Margaret Curran said she had a signed
agreement from tribal leaders and didn't wish to get involved with tribal
politics.
“I think we should take that
(agreement) at face value and avoid getting involved with the tribe’s internal
conflict,” she said.
The EFSB didn't act on a motion to
hold a public hearing on the water agreement between the Narragansett Indian
Tribe and Invenergy, as hearings are
already planned for Dec. 5
and 6 in Charlestown and Burrillville, respectively.
The EFSB denied the town of
Burrillville’s request to suspend or dismiss the application altogether. The
town's attorney, Michael McElroy, argued that Invenergy failed on several
occasions to provide information and failed to meet deadlines.
“The town has had to fight for
everything it has been looking for,” McElroy said. “And Invenergy has fought at
every turn.”
The EFSB, however, agreed with
Invenergy that many of the missteps and delays were addressed in previous
motions or would be debated in the final stage of hearings. Those hearings were
expected to start Dec. 8 but will likely begin in March.