Invenergy to reduce days that the proposed Burrillville power plant will run on oil

A RENDERING of the proposed natural gas-powered electrical plant in Burrillville. The House Environment and Natural Resources Committee on Tuesday passed a bill that could have a major impact on the future of the proposed plant. / COURTESY INVENERGY LLC
A RENDERING of the proposed natural gas-powered electrical plant in Burrillville. The House Environment and Natural Resources Committee on Tuesday passed a bill that could have a major impact on the future of the proposed plant. / COURTESY INVENERGY LLC

BURRILLVILLE – In an effort to reduce air emissions and appease disgruntled community members, the owner of a proposed power plant in Burrillville has cut in half the days it would run the plant on oil.
Chicago-based Invenergy Thermal Development LLC has proposed to build a 900-megawatt, natural gas-powered power plant dubbed Clear River Energy Center in Burrillville and is currently awaiting regulatory approval. The plant has been highly controversial, as community members and environmentalists argue its poorly located and will be harmful to the environment. Proponents, meanwhile, say it’s needed to curb the trend of rising energy costs and to ensure energy resiliency. In an attempt to assuage critics’ concerns, Invenergy on Thursday announced it would reduce air emissions by cutting the numbers of days the power facility could run on oil from 30 days to 15 days. The plant would run on natural gas the remainder of the year.
“We know that the community had questions about the potential number of days we could run on oil, so we’ve adjusted our plan to limit those days and further reduce emissions,” said John Niland, Invenergy’s development director, in a statement.
The company estimates the reduction would decrease carbon emissions by up to 30,000 tons annually, according to a press release.
The R.I. Energy Facility Siting Board is currently deliberating on whether to allow the plant. A decision is expected this fall.

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