CCA Blog and Mail Box

Below you will find an archive of CCA blog posts. The comments from readers and some blog posts do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the CCA Steering Committee. Sign up to receive these blog posts by e-mail.

CellTower

Council Votes To Authorize Solicitor And Others To Take Action On Radio Tower

/,

On Monday, April 9, the Town Council voted to authorize the Town Solicitor and other Town officials to take action to ensure the public health and safety of residents in relation to the 178-foot radio tower proposed for the DOT Salt Barn at the Cross Mills exit on Rt. 1. One of those actions will be to enforce the Town’s Zoning Ordinance.

Continue Reading --->

Ayla Fox_Bradford_dam pre demolition 1260x708

After 250 Years of Dams, Pawcatuck River Restored for Migratory Fish

/,

The last time fish could migrate unimpeded on the Pawcatuck River, the United States was not yet a nation. George Washington was a surveyor, not a general or a president. But now, thanks to The Nature Conservancy, the Wood Pawcatuck Watershed Association, and other groups, the Pawcatuck River is ready for this year’s herring and shad runs — all 34 miles are passable for the first time in US history!

Continue Reading --->

Screen Shot 2018 03 18 at 10.18.44 AM

178-foot Radio Tower Proposed For Route 1

/,

Before a new tower is located in this important tourism and wildlife location, the impacts to wildlife and tourism should be thoroughly studied. Alternatively RIEMA could find another location at a higher elevation that would allow for a well screened shorter tower with fewer visual and wildlife impacts.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is the regulatory agency that will make the decision on whether to approve the tower. Comments must be sent to the FCC on or before March 27.

Continue Reading --->

Ruth Platner

We Should Leave Our Town Charter As It Is

/,

Changing the Charter as the CDTC suggests, to require the automatic appointment of the “next highest vote getter” from among the defeated candidates, is not following the voter’s choice. The voter’s choice can only be measured in an election, and when there has been time for a special election the voters have chosen to defeat again the “next highest vote getter.” We should leave our Town Charter as it is.

Continue Reading --->

north cape leaking oil oiled shore point judith 1996_noaa_720

Join Environmental Council of Rhode Island and Save The Bay in Rally To Protect Our Coast

/,

Why: The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has proposed opening up waters off Rhode Island and the rest of New England, to oil and gas exploration and production.
When: Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 3:30 p.m.
Where: North side of the Rhode Island State House.
Attend the Environmental Council of Rhode Island Press Conference just prior to the Rally
When: Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 3:15 p.m.,
Where: The State Room at the State House

Continue Reading --->

Photo of a Trail in the Carter Preserve

Charlestown Remains Connected To The Forests of Burrillville

/, ,

Now that the Narragansett Tribe and Invenergy have terminated their contract to truck water from Tribal land in Charlestown to Burrillville to cool the turbines of Invenergy’s proposed power plant in the forest of that town, Charlestown has lost its intervenor status. That is great news for the wetlands of the Indian Cedar Swamp and for anyone who lives or travels in the path of the proposed tanker truck caravan. Yet despite escaping this threat to our local roads and wetlands, Charlestown remains connected to the forests of Burrillville in several important ways.

Continue Reading --->

bonnie-head-shot-2014

Bonnie Van Slyke’s Comments at the December 5 EFSB Public Hearing

/, ,

Invenergy’s application calls for water to be withdrawn from the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed—a watershed designated by the Environmental Protection Agency as the ONLY source of our drinking water. This water would be withdrawn year after year over the lifespan of the power plant.

This is alarming because sea level rise and warming temperatures will affect Charlestown in particular during this time period because of our geology. This plan will impact our ability, and that of other coastal communities within this watershed as well, to manage these effects.

Continue Reading --->

Julie220

Julie Carroccia’s Comments at the December 5 EFSB Public Hearing

/, ,

I am concerned about the complete lack of transparency regarding the contract between Invenergy and the Narragansett Indian tribe for water as well as the weak merits of the overall plant proposal.

The siting board should decline the Invenergy application based on the applications lack of transparency as well as the proposal’s lack of merit.

Continue Reading --->

Ruth Platner

Ruth Platner’s Comments at the December 5 EFSB Public Hearing

/, ,

The Energy Facility Siting Board should not accept Invenergy’s proposal to withdraw groundwater from within the Town of Charlestown to satisfy any requirement for a water supply.

This application is before the Energy Facility Siting Board, but if it were an application before the Planning Commission, our Planner would stamp it incomplete and send it back to the applicant. The EFSB should do the same.

Continue Reading --->

Photo of a Charlestown Public Hearing

Hundreds Attend EFSB Hearing in Opposition to Water Withdrawal

/, ,

On Tuesday, December 5, the Energy Facility Siting Board (EFSB) held a hearing in Charlestown to hear testimony on Invenergy’s proposal to truck water from Tribal land in Charlestown to Burrillville to cool the turbines of Invenergy’s proposed power plant in the forest of that town. Hundreds of citizens attended the meeting, dozens spoke against the water withdrawal plan, no one spoke in favor of the plan. Many speakers asked questions, but Invenergy provided no answers.

Post includes videos of the speakers.

Continue Reading --->

GeorgeTremblay

Charlestown Electorate has Confidence in CCA Members

/,

In his letter of 2 Dec, Frank Glista explains the broad base of public support for CCA candidates for public office. He sees evidence of the independent nature of those who run for office under the CCA banner. Concern that undue pressure forces the council to promote the leadership’s political agenda is dispelled by Glista’s observation that members of the town council vote their conscience, not the leadership agenda. It is the vote of conscience that inspires the electorate to return these folks to office.

Continue Reading --->

books

Preparing for the December 5 Hearing on Water Withdrawal from Charlestown

/, ,

When: Tuesday, December 5 at 6 p.m. (doors open at 5 p.m.)
Where: Charlestown Elementary School, 363 Carolina Back Road (Rt. 112), Charlestown
What: The purpose of the hearing is to hear your public comment.
Who: This is entirely the Energy Facility Siting Board’s (EFSB) hearing. This is not a Town meeting and the Charlestown government has not been allowed to make a formal presentation. The applicant however gets an opportunity to present to the public and the hearing will begin with a presentation by the applicant Invenergy Thermal Development LLC.
Ideas for questions to ask the EFSB on Tuesday night are at the end of this post.

Continue Reading --->

contract

Taking the Water Withdrawal Contract at its “Face Value”

/, ,

In denying the Tribal Council’s motion to intervene, the EFSB claimed approval of the motion would put the EFSB in the position of taking a side in internal tribal politics, instead they would just take the contract between Invenergy and “two members of the Tribe”, Matthew Thomas and John Brown, at its “face value”.

Since this November 27 EFSB hearing I have wondered what the EFSB meant by the “face value” of the contract. And what is that face value?

Continue Reading --->

Ruth Platner

The Energy Facility Siting Board, like any other public body in Rhode Island, is subject to the Open Meeting Act

/, ,

Letter from Ruth Platner: “The Energy Facility Siting Act requires that the EFSB base their decision on a finding that the applicant has shown that there will not be “unacceptable harm to the environment and [that the proposal] will enhance the socio-economic fabric of the state”. With the facts of the water withdrawal hidden from the public, is the EFSB expecting us to just trust their judgment?”

Continue Reading --->

Invenergy

Where Will The Water Go? Learn More About The Invenergy Power Plant

/, ,

When: Tuesday, November 21 at 7 p.m.
Where: Cross Mills Library (map in post)
What: Invenergy plans to withdraw groundwater from Charlestown and carry it by tanker trucks to Burrillville where it will cool the turbines of the proposed gas and oil fueled power plant. You can learn all about the project that will use this water at this informational meeting.
Who: This event is sponsored by the Rhode Island Association of Conservation Commissions and the Burrillville Land Trust. Burrillville Land Trust President, Paul A. Roselli will lead the presentation and discussion.

Continue Reading --->

Photo of Ice House Pond in the Carter Preserve

Hearing on Withdrawing Water from Charlestown to Cool Northern RI Power Plant

/, ,

When: Tuesday, December 5 at 6 p.m. (doors open at 5 p.m.)
Where: Charlestown Elementary School, 363 Carolina Back Road (Rt. 112), Charlestown (map in post)
What: Hearing to allow public comment from Charlestown citizens and others on Invenergy Thermal Development’s proposal to withdraw groundwater from Charlestown and transport it by tanker trucks to Burrillville to cool the turbines of the natural gas and diesel power plant they are seeking to build in the forest in that town.

Continue Reading --->

Image of the Narragansett Indian Tribe Logo

Text of Narragansett Tribal Council’s Motion to Intervene on Water Withdrawal

/, ,

“While Tribal Council members have not received a copy of the purported agreement between Invenergy and the Tribe, generally speaking formal contracts that may be implied or expressly created in this type of agreement require a tribal resolution, signed by the Chief or First Councilman. Such a resolution requires a special tribal meeting and a vote by the body. No tribal meeting or vote has occurred regarding a proposed agreement to sell tribal water to Invenergy.”

Continue Reading --->

Water Tanker Truck

Questions About Impacts of Tanker Truck Traffic Carrying Water to Burrillville

/, ,

Once we get more reliable data, we’ll be able to assess impacts such as safety, noise, air quality, cumulative damage to roads, and energy used. Invenergy will pay for the water, but all these other costs associated with health, safety, and diminished quality of life will be borne by the communities the trucks pass through. And it all depends on how much water is trucked on any given day.

Continue Reading --->

P1140306

Text of Charlestown’s Motion to Intervene on Water Withdrawal

/, ,

“Charlestown’s interest, therefore, is the potential of a material, adverse impact on Charlestown’s water supply as a consequence of the operation of the proposed Power Plant. To this extent, the Town of Charlestown is an “affected community” … “As such, a public hearing must be conducted in Charlestown, with notice at least 30 days prior, and prior to the final hearing on the Application.”

Continue Reading --->

Ruth Platner

Planning Commission Chair Ruth Platner’s Testimony at Burrillville Power Plant Hearing

/, ,

The Energy Facilities Siting Board should not allow the developers of the Invenergy power plant to use an agreement to withdraw groundwater from within the Town of Charlestown to satisfy any requirement for a backup water supply because of insufficient notice to the Town of Charlestown, insufficient information provided to the Town, and a need for the Siting Board to seek additional legal advice.

Continue Reading --->

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Town ‘blindsided’ by tribal deal; Water agreement for power plant on Charlestown agenda

/, ,

Westerly Sun: “We haven’t been notified, we’ve had no calls from the state agencies, and no calls from the tribe,” council President Virginia Lee said Friday. “We have no information so we’re going to discuss with our lawyers how to go about getting the documents we haven’t been provided and how to get the data.”

Continue Reading --->

Solar101 1

What We Learned at Solar 101

/, ,

Over 75 Charlestown residents attended the Solarize Charlestown program at Cross Mills Library on June 27 to learn about the State Incentives, Federal Tax Credits, and group purchasing power made possible by the partnership of the State of Rhode Island and the Town of Charlestown that make this an affordable time to add solar panels to your roof.

If you missed the program or just want to review the June 27 presentation, we have put together a slide show with a short summary of what we learned.

Continue Reading --->

« Older EntriesNewer Entries »