from Rising Tide Vermont
Opponents of Vermont Gas’ fracked gas pipeline, including ratepayers, marched on the Williston pipe yard this morning and blocked the front driveway with a peaceful sit-in, demanding an end to construction of the pipeline. A Stop Work Order was issued to management on site, informing Vermont Gas and its subcontractors that they were to stop all construction immediately.
Jen Berger, a Burlington ratepayer, said, “Last week ratepayers and Addison County residents were shut out of the Public Service Board offices. Today, we are taking our demands directly to Vermont Gas, telling them they do not have permission to build this dirty pipeline.”
Berger referenced an incident last Tuesday, when dozens of ratepayers and Addison County residents were barred from entering the Public Service Board office to deliver a petition signed by 500 ratepayers, calling on the Board to suspend construction of the pipeline.
“We are standing here today to let Vermont Gas know they do not have the social license to continue construction,” Berger said. “Vermont Gas must halt construction immediately. Ratepayers don’t want to fund this project, and landowners don’t want to host it. Enough is enough.”
After marching through the pipe yard, nearly a dozen participants linked arms and blocked the driveway to prevent trucks from entering. Participants planned to maintain the sit-in until ordered to leave by police.
