Vermont Business Magazine Opponents of the natural gas pipeline under construction in Chittenden and Addison countiesoccupied the lobby area outside Governor Peter Shumlin's office in Montpelier late Monday afternoon. Police arrested 64 of the protesters and cited them for trespassing. Police reported that the protest was without incident.Vermont State Police reported that, in conjunction with several other law enforcement agencies, it monitored the events of the scheduled protest throughout the day. Late in the afternoon law enforcement was notified that protestors had made their way into the Pavilion Building on 109 State Street in Montpelier. The protesters proceeded upstairs without authorization and occupied the lobby of the governor’s office on the fifth floor. Other protestors remained on the first floor of the building, near the elevators.
Additional law enforcement officers responded and notified protesters that they needed to leave the premises, according to the VSP. Protesters refused to leave the building and law enforcement officers stayed on the premises to monitor the safety and security of the building and protestersinto the late afternoon hours. Protestors were notified by police that they needed to leave the premises by6:30 pm and a failure to do sowould be considered trespassing.
After7 pm, the Vermont State Police requested the protesters to leave the governor’s office and most refused. Law enforcement officers escorted 64 protesters from the building and issued each citations for misdemeanor trespassing. Arrests proceeded without incident. The protesters were issued citations, but mug shots were not taken.
Opponents of the pipeline have staged several protests, including at worksites in Williston and at Vermont Gas System's headquarters in South Burlington, which also resulted in arrests. They say the pipeline being built from Colchester to Middlebury, which will extend to the Ticonderoga paper millNew York and eventually to Rutland, carries gas from "fracked" wells. Other opponents oppose the environmental impact from the construction work required to lay the pipe and to the land taking along the route.
Proponents say natural gas is an environmentally cleaner option than other fossil fuels and its lower cost will help the local economy.
GovernorPeter Shumlin, who was not in his office at the time, issued the following statement on the protest at the Pavilion Building:
“Peaceful protest is a right deeply embedded in our democracy. I support the right of all sides to be heard, and appreciate the protester’s decision to act respectfully with state staff and law enforcement tonight. While I agree that climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing our state, nation, and world, I disagree with the protester’s position on the natural gas pipeline, which I believe will help hasten our state’s transition away from dirtier fuel oil and help our economy. My thanks go out to the Vermont State Police, Montpelier Police Department, and all other law enforcement officers who assisted for handling the protests in a peaceful manner.”
Along with the Vermont State Police other law enforcement includedMontpelier PD, Barre City PD, Capitol Police, Washington County SO, DMV Enforcement Unit, VT Dept of Liquor Control Inspectors, and BGS Security.
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Governor Phil Scott issued the following statement: “On Monday afternoon and evening, as protestors marched on the Pavilion Building, I was involved with the Department of Public Safety’s temporary Command Center in downtown Montpelier. What I witnessed confirmed my faith in our law enforcement on many levels: Vermont State Police, Montpelier Police, Barre City Police, Capitol Police, Washington County Sheriffs, DMV Enforcement, Vermont Department of Liquor Control Inspectors and BGS Security all worked together to protect Vermonters and our infrastructure while simultaneously protecting and ensuring the First Amendment rights of those protesting.
“The news reports clearly show some of the protesters were ultimately arrested without incident, but I know how quickly the outcome could have "gone south" without the collective level of expertise and experience of the officers involved.
“I couldn't be more proud of how those in charge of the operation handled themselves, as well as how the officers on the ground reacted to the developing situation. The level of cooperation between so many agencies was both inspiring and comforting; the safety of our State and its citizens is in good hands, and I thank them for their efforts.”
Stephen Wark, Vermont Gas' Director of Communications, released this statement Monday evening: "Natural gas is safer, cleaner and about half the cost of the fuel oil and propane that most Vermonters use today.In fact, a record number of Vermonters converted to natural gas this year and thousands of Vermonters support the Addison Rutland Natural Gas Project because it will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by nearly two million tons while saving the typical homeowner up to $2,000 every year.The project offers huge environmental and economic advantages – more than $150 million in energy savings for homes and businesses in just Addison County in the next 20 years – while playing a significant role in transitioning Vermont to a cleaner and more affordable energy future.Experts on both sides agree that there is no better home heating fuel than natural gas to help Vermont transition from its over reliance on dirtier and more costly oil and propane. Natural gas is also a key to ensuring businesses and industries that employ thousands of Vermonters and drive our economy forward are utilizing cleaner more affordable fuels.At the same time that Vermont Gas is helping Vermont use natural gas to transition to a more affordable, safer and cleaner energy future, we’re also supporting the state’s aggressive 2050 renewable energy goals by expanding consumer access to renewable natural gas, natural gas vehicles, and combined solar/natural gas heating and hot water options."