Activists march 28 miles to protest natural gas expansion in RI

natural gas protest
Protesters march to the State House to demonstrate against natural gas expansion. Photo by Sam Wroblewski WPRO News

By Sam Wroblewski 630wpro.com

Roughly twenty activists made a three-day march to the State House from Burrillville to protest the expansion of a natural gas compression facility in the town. The members of Fighting Against Natural Gas (FANG) believe the environmental impact is too costly.

“We’re taking all the cost and all the harm and the only people benefiting are Spectra Energy pipeline company so they can make the most profit possible,” said FANG organizer Nick Katkevich.

The Texas-based natural gas transmission company Spectra Energy manages a facility in Burrillville which pressurizes natural gas pipelines to deliver product to Rhode Island; the pipeline also sends natural gas to Boston. Two recent proposals would allow Spectra to expand pipeline using existing rights of way. One proposal would even allow natural gas to be sent to and from Canada.

“We should be investing in clean, community-owned energy and not corporate owned fossil fuel infrastructure,” said Katkevich.

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