The protests of the Vermont Gas pipeline that will extend into Addison County and eventually to Rutland and the Ticonderoga paper plant in New York were renewed Wednesday when opponents of the natural gas pipeline staged a walk-through and sit-in at the Williston staging area. Pipe laying has already begun in Williston as the line is extended from Colchester, but protesters chose to block the entrance to the staging and office location, which stopped trucks and workers from entering or leaving for a short time. Once company officials approached the protesters, they dispersed to public areas to avoid being cited for trespassing. At a protest in May at the VGS headquarters in South Burlington, one protester who had chained herself to the front door was arrested and two others were eventually cited for trespassing. No arrests were made this time, but each side issued tersely worded statements (see below).
Vermont Gas has stated that the development of the Addison Rutland Natural Gas Project will help residents and local businesses cut their energy bills about 50 percent, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and keep and create more good jobs. VGS has stated that natural gas is safer, cleaner and is about half the cost of the propane or fuel oil used by most Vermonters, and it supports many of the community and economic development goals shared by organizations across the region.
Phase 1 of the Addison Natural Gas Project, which received its Certificate of Public Good from the Vermont Public Service Board in December, will transport natural gas from Colchester to Middlebury. If approved by the Public Service Board, Phase 2 will deliver natural gas to parts of Middlebury, Cornwall and Shoreham, and then to the International Paper Mill in Ticonderoga. By extending natural gas service to the mill, VGS has stated that Vermonters will save about $45 million of the cost to bring natural gas to Rutland by 2020 – 15 years sooner than otherwise would be possible – and help keep good-paying jobs in the region, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve regional air quality throughout the Champlain Valley.
Opponents of the pipeline have stated that some of the natural gas comes from hydro fracturing (fracking) type drilling whch they say pollutes acquifers. Other protesters maintain that local environmentally sensitive areas will be disturbed by the construction work. The Public Service Board has already put on hold one section that runs along a VELCO right-of-way. The cost of the project also has increased $35 million from original projections, which opponents say reduces claims by the supporters of the pipeline that there is a great cost savings and economic development benefit to the pipeline.
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Statement Regarding Protestors at Williston Worksite from Vermont Gas
Steve Wark, Communications Director
Twelve members of Rising Tide Vermont today obstructed the entrance to an active construction site. For their own safety, and for the safety of employees and contractors, they were asked to move to a nearby public right of way.
This is the same organization that recently assaulted a female Vermont Gas employee, trespassed on Vermont Gas property and whose members have made volatile and threatening statements in media and at public meetings.
It is unfortunate that these protestors can no longer be trusted to express their views peacefully, honestly or with respect for the Vermonters who are working to grow the economy and strengthen the environment through this important infrastructure project.
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Altogether, this project has very broad support among a large majority of residents because it will lower heating costs by 40-50 percent for thousands of households and employers while also cutting Vermont’s greenhouse gas emissions by hundreds of thousands of tons over the next 20 years.
We respect the right individuals have to express their point of view. Unfortunately, this organization has proven on more than one occasion that it cannot be trusted to express their point of view peacefully or honestly.
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As a result of their extreme behavior, and our concern that they may be violent or vandalize property in the future, we have had to establish specific security protocols to protect people and property and we will continue to follow these protocols.
If they elect to trespass—rather than express their view from a public space at a respectful distance—they will be given the opportunity to leave peacefully.
If they elect to stay and obstruct progress, or threaten or disrupt customers, employees or contractors we reserve the right to request that law enforcement cite them for trespassing. Given their previous behavior, we also record their activity.
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There is no project in Vermont, proposed or underway, that has such real and significant benefits to Vermont’s economy and environment. It is disappointing that this extreme minority is so out of touch with the needs of Vermont’s working families and the role natural gas will play in transitioning us to a cleaner and more affordable energy future.
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Statement from Caroline Decunzo, Rising Tide Vermont
Peaceful Sit-In, March at Pipe Yard Seeks to Halt Pipeline Construction
Williston, Vt. - Opponents of Vermont Gas’ fracked gas pipeline, including ratepayers, marched on the Williston pipe yard this morning and blocked the front driveway with a peaceful sit-in, demanding an end to construction of the pipeline. A Stop Work Order was issued to management on site, informing Vermont Gas and its subcontractors that they were to stop all construction immediately.
Jen Berger, a Burlington ratepayer, said, “Last week ratepayers and Addison County residents were shut out of the Public Service Board offices. Today, we are taking our demands directly to Vermont Gas, telling them they do not have permission to build this dirty pipeline.”
Berger referenced an incident last Tuesday, when dozens of ratepayers and Addison County residents were barred from entering the Public Service Board office to deliver a petition signed by 500 ratepayers, calling on the Board to suspend construction of the pipeline.
“We are standing here today to let Vermont Gas know they do not have the social license to continue construction,” Berger said. “Vermont Gas must halt construction immediately. Ratepayers don’t want to fund this project, and landowners don’t want to host it. Enough is enough.”
After marching through the pipe yard, nearly a dozen participants linked arms and blocked the driveway to prevent trucks from entering. Participants planned to maintain the sit-in until ordered to leave by police.