Invenergy looks to Woonsocket for water

A RENDERING of the proposed natural gas-powered electrical plant in Burrillville. Invenergy Thermal Development LLC is hoping to strike a deal with Woonsocket city officials to purchase water so the company can cool generators at its much-debated power plant. / COURTESY INVENERGY LLC
A RENDERING of the proposed natural gas-powered electrical plant in Burrillville. Invenergy Thermal Development LLC is hoping to strike a deal with Woonsocket city officials to purchase water so the company can cool generators at its much-debated power plant. / COURTESY INVENERGY LLC

WARWICK – Invenergy Thermal Development LLC is courting Woonsocket city officials to sell it water so the company can cool generators at its much-debated, gas-fired power plant proposed for Burrillville.
The Chicago-based company says it entered into discussions with city officials starting after the election ended, and has characterized city representatives as receptive to continued talks.
“We have identified Woonsocket as a potential water source for the [power plant], and we have begun discussions with Mayor [Lisa] Baldelli-Hunt and Woonsocket City Council to explore the feasibility of becoming a new Woonsocket water customer,” said John Niland, Invenergy’s business development director, in a statement.
The company has proposed to build a 1,000-megawatt, gas-fired power plant dubbed the Clear River Energy Center in Burrillville. The power plant has been hotly contested, as town residents, environmentalists and renewable-energy advocates have fought against the project while many politicians and natural-gas advocates have shown support.
The $700 million project earlier this year hit a snag when the Pascoag Utility District voted against allowing the company to use a water well in its district to cool facilities generators – an imperative part of the electricity-producing process.
The R.I. Energy Facility Siting Board, charged with deciding whether to allow the plant, in October suspended the company’s application for 60 days after Invenergy failed to produce an alternative plan. The company updated the board on Monday, saying Woonsocket would hold a public hearing on Jan. 6 to discuss the possible terms and conditions of a water supply contract. If an agreement is made, the company could likely move forward with its state application.
“We will provide you with a further update once one becomes available,” according to a letter filed with the EFSB on Monday.
The letter is signed by representatives of both Woonsocket and the company. The EFSB, which was supposed to have made its final decision this fall, has been generous to Invenergy with scheduling, much to the chagrin of opposition. The proposed project has received a tremendous amount of pushback from local residents – along with others – who feel Burrillville is unfairly targeted for natural-gas projects because it’s one of the few places where there’s pipeline access to the fuel.
Environmentalists, including the Conservation Law Foundation, have been fighting the proposed power plant since it was first introduced, warning against the negative impacts natural gas has on the environment.
Despite the opposition, however, Niland remains optimistic about the project’s chances with this new development with Woonsocket.
“We believe Woonsocket would be a good match. The city has plenty of available water to meet our needs, and the new revenue would [be a] benefit to the city’s finances. We appreciate the good-faith discussions with the city thus far, and we’ll work closely with the city of Woonsocket in the coming weeks on a potential agreement,” he said.

No posts to display