STOP THE NORTH SMITHFIELD POWER PLANT

NEWS ARCHIVE

QUOTES to REMEMBER

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"Our feeling at this point is that the responses Indeck may provide will not adequately satisfy the matter," Southgate said. "And if that clarification cannot be made, the panel would have to rule the applicant has failed to provide information and we would be in a position of having to deny the requested application." ... by JOSEPH B. NADEAU, Staff Writer June 03, 2001

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"We are unaware of any industrial park being planned for the site," Robinson said. ...by JOSEPH B. NADEAU, Staff Writer June 01, 2001

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"Local residents are concerned about the proposal?s potential impact on the aquifer from which they draw their drinking water, the plant?s proximity to Slatersville Reservoir, air emissions, increased traffic volume and the overburdening of local wastewater treatment facilities," Chafee said in the letter. "It is imperative that their concerns not be dismissed." ...by MEREDYTH R. WATERMAN, Staff Writer 10-7-00

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Some "loose ends" would remain unanswered...said Indeck spokseman Amos Shepard...9.26.2000...by JOSEPH B. NADEAU, Call Staff Writer

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Says Providence Gas spokesman James Grasso: "The Department of Energy has said that gas prices have doubled since last year because of a fall-off in production, short supplies and high demand by industry and electrical utilities." More power plants are coming on line and choosing to use natural gas, Grasso said. "So when you put all those things together, it's a matter of supply and demand." ... 9.9.2000 ...By TOM MOONEY Journal Staff Writer

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"After listening to all the testimony and all the expert opinions, I felt it was time to say something and I concur with what the Town Council said," Town Administrator Daniel J. Andrews said...JOSEPH B. NADEAU, Staff Writer September 07, 2000

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"Indeck has failed to make a compelling case of why the quality of life for North Smithfield residents, particularly the hundreds of families living near the pristine reservoir, wouldn?t be adversely impacted by this facility," U.S. Rep. Patrick J.Kennedy said...JOSEPH B. NADEAU, Staff Writer September 03, 2000

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"Very simply, I don't know where he received his information that in any way shape or form shows property values have gone down, period," Coyle said, but he offered no statistics that showed that....By JOHN HILL, Journal Staff Writer ..8/29/00

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The company?s attorney, Roger C. Ross, began by asserting the company did not need town approval to build the plant. ...JOSEPH B. NADEAU, Woonsocket Call Staff Writer, August 23, 2000

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If Burrillville is an accurate example, local residents can expect to see declines in the value of their properties upon construction of the proposed Indeck Energy Services, Inc., power plant, according to a town consultant.

Isherwood pegged Burrillville at experiencing an overall loss of 16 percent in its property values since completion of Ocean State in 1991. With North Smithfield properties representing a higher overall median price valuation than Burrillville, Isherwood said impact from a power plant here could even be greater. ...JOSEPH B. NADEAU, Woonsocket Callo Staff Writer, August 22, 2000

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Senate Majority Leader Paul S. Kelly (D-Dist. 30, North Smithfield, Woonsocket, Burrillville) yesterday expressed extreme displeasure with the decision made by the board of directors of the Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce to endorse Indeck Energy Services? proposal to construct and operate a power plant in North Smithfield, calling their actions "premature and imprudent."

"I am disappointed that the chamber has chosen to put money ahead of quality of life," Kelly said. "This is a rather cavalier attitude that the board has taken." ...Call Staff August 22, 2000

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Benoit acknowledged Monday afternoon that he had issued between six and 12 citations to homeowners who posted signs like: "Save the Reservoir; No Power Plant." He said residents with more than one sign exceeded the three square feet of signage allowed, and the signs also lacked names and addresses or identification of the permitted use, as the ordinance requires. ...MICHAEL HOLTZMAN, Woonsocket Call Staff Writer, July 26, 2000

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On Monday, the EFSB received an emergency petition from Indeck attorney Paul P. Baillargeon of North Smithfield asking that the Town Council be removed from issuing an advisory opinion to the siting board. The basis for making that request was that the council allowed critical statements from citizens at a recent meeting without notifying the developers, and the council president and other councilors made statements showing a bias against the project. Baillargeon said that council President Daniel C. Halloran's position, in which he gave conditions in which he'd recommend against a zoning change, "colored the entire proceedings." ...MICHAEL HOLTZMAN, Woonsocket Call Staff Writer, July 19, 2000

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"Unless Indeck can come and say to me that they?re not the biggest polluter in the state of Rhode Island, that air, water and property values will not be affected -- unless Indeck can prove it to me, I am not voting to change the zone," Halloran said. The audience gave him a standing ovation. ...MICHAEL HOLTZMAN, Woonsocket Call Staff Writer, July 11, 2000

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"There are other places to build a plant like this," Paul S. Kelly, the Senate majority leader and town resident, told about 150 people packed inside the annex basement to oppose the plant. Citing the town?s three Superfund sites in the vicinity of the proposed plant -- LR&R, Stamina Mills and Western Sand & Gravel -- Kelly said, "We need to let the state know we?ve had enough with pollution, that we have one life and one town -- and Indeck should look elsewhere!" ...MICHAEL HOLTZMAN, Woonsocket Call Staff Writer, July 11, 2000

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"There is an insignificant impact on air quality," said Keith Kennedy, a civil and environmental engineer for Tech Environmental Inc. of Waltham, Mass. As quoted by MICHAEL HOLTZMAN, Woonsocket Call Staff Writer June 14, 2000. "The consultant made the assertion despite the fact that Illinois-based Indeck Energy Services Inc.'s proposed $250 million plant near the upper Slatersville Reservoir would release hundreds of tons of pollutants a year through a 190-foot smokestack.".

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"I've heard there's a petition with 1,100 names on it" opposing the power plant, Biron said. "But I bet if you said Indeck is going to give us $4 million to stabilize our tax rate, 50 percent of them would go off it." "I'm not saying yes," Biron said, "but I'm leaning that way." as quoted by by JOHN HILL Journal Staff Writer on June 14, 2000.

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"I still think there's a lot left to hear," Town Councilman Michael A. Lemay said. "My biggest concern is the Superfund site, how will it affect noise and water. There are a lot of variables we need to listen to ... There are still major questions to be asked and answered.", as quoted by JOHN HILL ,Journal Staff Writer 6/19/22.