Spectra Energy currently operates a natural gas compressor station in Burrillville, Rhode Island that draws fracked gas from the Marcellus Shale through 1,127 miles of pipeline in New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. |
The movement against Spektra Energy's fracked gas pipeline expansion gains momentum in New England.
Description:
Basic Data
| Name of conflict: | Spektra Energy's Fracked Gas “Bridge to Nowhere”, USA |
| Country: | United States of America |
| State or province: | Rhode Island |
| Location of conflict: | Burrillville |
| Accuracy of location | MEDIUM (Regional level) |
Source of Conflict
| Type of conflict. 1st level: | Fossil Fuels and Climate Justice/Energy |
| Type of conflict. 2nd level: | Other Shale gas fracking Oil and gas refining |
| Specific commodities: | Natural Gas |
Project Details and Actors
| Project details | Current Pipeline Length: 1,127 miles |
| Project area: | 6733 |
| Level of Investment for the conflictive project | 5,000,000.00 Dollars |
| Type of population | Rural |
| Start of the conflict: | 01/01/2014 |
| Company names or state enterprises: | Spectra Energy Corp from United States of America |
| Relevant government actors: | Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) |
| Environmental justice organizations (and other supporters) and their websites, if available: | FANG (Fighting Against Natural Gas) 350 Conneticut Fossil Free Rhode Island Burrillville Against Spectra Expansion |
Conflict & Mobilization
| Intensity | MEDIUM (street protests, visible mobilization) |
| Reaction stage | PREVENTIVE resistance (precautionary phase) |
| Groups mobilizing: | Local ejos Neighbours/citizens/communities Local scientists/professionals |
| Forms of mobilization: | Creation of alternative reports/knowledge Development of a network/collective action Street protest/marches Occupation of buildings/public spaces Boycotts of companies-products |
Impacts
| Environmental Impacts | Visible: Global warming, Soil contamination Potential: Fires |
| Health Impacts | Visible: Accidents, Exposure to unknown or uncertain complex risks (radiation, etc…) |
| Socio-economical Impacts | Potential: Land dispossession, Loss of landscape/sense of place |
Outcome
| Project Status | Planned (decision to go ahead eg EIA undertaken, etc) |
| Conflict outcome / response: | Criminalization of activists |
| Proposal and development of alternatives: | To date, 27 organizations from NY, CT, RI and MA have signed on to a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), which has the power to approve the project. |
| Do you consider this an environmental justice success? Was environmental justice served?: | No |
| Briefly explain: | Expansion of the Algonquin pipeline was approved by the United States FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) on March 3rd, 2015. Spectra Energy plans to begin in April 2015. |
Sources & Materials
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| Related media links to videos, campaigns, social network |
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Meta information
| Contributor: | Eleanor Finley, University of Massachusetts, Amherst. |
| Last update | 18/08/2019 |
| Conflict ID: | 1813 |
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