Spektra Energy's Fracked Gas “Bridge to Nowhere”, USA
Description:
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. In anticipation of increasing global demand for natural gas, Spectra Energy have announced plans to build several hundred miles of additional pipeline, increase output, and make Burrillville a major hub of gas exportation on the East Coast. Environmental justice organization such as Fossil Free Rhode Island and FANG (Fighting Against Natural Gas) have rallied support across Rhode Island to protest expansion of the pipeline, which they have declared a "bridge to nowhere". Their efforts have resounded especially with residents of Burrillville, who are expressing growing fears over chemical exposure, noise pollution, and the risk of explosions. 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. Most recently, FANG activists completed a 28 mile march from the compressor station in Burrillville to downtown Providence. Earlier in the year, four FANG members were arrested in the office of Sheldon Whitehouse, a Rhode Island Senator who positions himself as environmentally progressive, yet has actively supported construction of the pipeline. |
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 Current Capacity: 2.6 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) Ownership: Spectra Energy Partners, LP, a subsidiary of Duke Energy Operator: Spectra Energy |
| 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 |
Images |
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FANG Occupies the Office of US Senator Sheldon Whitehouse
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The March to Burrillville
FANG activists conducted a 28 mile march in the snow from the compressor station in Burrillville to the capitol building in Providence.
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