Jerry Elmer explains Why Invenergy is a Zombie
On Monday, October 29, the three year anniversary of Invenergy‘s application to the Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB) for a permit to build a $1 billion fracked gas and diesel oil burning power plant amid the pristine forests of northwest Rhode Island, Conservation Law Foundation Senior Attorney Jerry Elmer held a “brown bag lunch” briefing to let reporters, environmentalists and
October 30, 2018, 12:27 pm
By Steve Ahlquist
On Monday, October 29, the three year anniversary of Invenergy‘s application to the Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB) for a permit to build a $1 billion fracked gas and diesel oil burning power plant amid the pristine forests of northwest Rhode Island, Conservation Law Foundation Senior Attorney Jerry Elmer held a “brown bag lunch” briefing to let reporters, environmentalists and other interested parties know where the case now stands.
In one sense, Elmer’s message was simple: “It’s time to finish the case,” said Elmer. “It’s time to deny a permit.”
Three years is about three times longer than it has taken to license any previous power plant in Rhode Island. Though Invenergy claims that the delays are being caused by the “well-funded” grassroots campaigns of local residents and environmentalists, as well as journalists like this author and blog posts from Jerry Elmer, the fact is, as much a I’d love to take my share of the credit Invenergy is offering, all the delays have been a product of Invenergy’s own incompetence.
See: Invenergy blames its failures and delays on power plant opponents in FERC filing
Some details I thought were interesting, but it may be only me:
Jerry Elmer says that in retrospect, he may have been wrong to say that the Town of Burrillville entering into a tax agreement with Invenergy was a mistake. Entering into the deal has allowed the Town to pay Attorney Michael McElroy for his services, and McElroy, in Elmer’s estimation, is one of the best energy lawyers there is.
As for the importance or influence of Governor Gina Raimondo on the disposition of the case before the EFSB, Elmer said, “I would like it if Governor Raimondo would hold a press conference for no other reason than to oppose the power plant.”
But the fact that Raimondo is unlikely to do so doesn’t seem to disturb Elmer. Invenergy is a zombie, he says. Invenergy is dead, but it doesn’t know it yet.
I have presented the full video of Elmer’s presentation below. It’s a great way to catch up on the case ahead of tomorrow’s October 31 hearing on a series of motions before the EFSB.
The EFSB hearings resume tomorrow at 10am in Hearing Room A of the Public Utilities Commission Offices, 89 Jefferson Boulevard, Warwick, Rhode Island.
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