Today starts a series of final hearings for a proposed natural gas power plant in Burrillville. 

Invenergy, the plant’s developer, has been trying to get its Clear River Energy Center approved by the Rhode Island Energy Facility Siting Board for more than two years now. However, there has been a lot of push back from Burrillville residents and environmentalists, who have said a fossil fuel-fired power plant is a step in the wrong direction.

Rhode Island Public Radio’s Elisabeth Harrison sat down with environment reporter Avory Brookins to talk more about the power plant and the controversy surrounding it. Click play below to hear the conversation. 

Day one of the final hearing starts Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at the Public Utilities Commission office building in Warwick. 

More than 20 additional hearings are expected to be held between April and October before the board’s final decision: 

  • April 26
  • July 19, 24, 25
  • August 15, 16, 21, 22, 23
  • September 4, 5, 6, 12, 18, 20, 26, 27
  • October 10, 16, 17, 30, 31 

 

Avory joined the newsroom in April 2017. She reports on a variety of local environmental topics, including the offshore wind industry, fishery management and the effects of climate change. Avory can also...