Today, a group of Rhode Island’s climate justice organizations rallied at the State House in opposition to Enbridge’s proposed Project Maple fracked-gas pipeline expansion. The groups hand-delivered a letter addressed to Governor Daniel McKee and the Department of Environmental Management. In total, eleven State Representatives and three State Senators signed on opposing the project. The petition-signers and community members present at the rally demand the denial of all further Project Maple permits.
Project Maple is a state-crossing gas expansion project proposed by Enbridge, owner of the interstate “Algonquin” gas pipelines. If approved, emissions from Project Maple are estimated to equal seven coal plants, threatening to erase all of Rhode Island’s emission-reduction progress.
Despite intense local opposition, construction has already begun on an initial phase of the project doubling the pipeline’s size from the east side of the Sakonnet River – in the town of Little Compton – to the west side of the River – in the town of Portsmouth. Earlier this month, during work on the Sakonnet River pipeline replacement, toxic drilling fluid leaked into a wetland in Portsmouth.
For the past ten years, Rhode Island has been at the forefront of the movement to stop pipeline expansions. The town of Burrillville, notably, has fiercely resisted previous pipeline expansion proposals. A massive statewide movement arose in 2015 following the proposal of a large power plant along the pipeline’s route. This movement continues today, as groups across the state are ready to oppose Project Maple.