Power plant talk revived

By LOUISE TETREAULT, Valley Breeze Staff Writer

NORTH SMITHFIELD – Nearly eight years after town residents organized to send Indeck-North Smithfield packing, a new gas-fired power plant has been proposed.

Town Administrator Robert Lowe told The Breeze that Robert Kimball of Holliston Sand Company, called him last week "about the possibility of building a power plant."

Said Lowe, "He asked me to get a couple of councilors to see his power plant in Blackstone," said Lowe.

"I said in this town, you're opening Pandora's box."

However that box may never open as three members of the Town Council have already declined the invitation.

Town Council President Linda Thibault, and Councilors Paul Zwolenski and Paul Leclerc said they are not interested in revisiting another power plant proposal.

It was in 1999 when Indeck-North Smithfield LLC proposed a 350-megawatt, natural gas-fired electric generating plant located off Old Oxford Road, nearby the Slatersville Reservoir on land owned by Kimball's company. The Tennessee gas pipeline which stretches from the Mexican border to Canada and serves markets across the Midwest and mid-Atlantic regions, including major metropolitan centers such as Chicago, New York, and Boston, crosses through the site.

Kimball could not be reached before deadline.

"He asked my opinion on the best avenue to approach this situation," said Lowe. "I'll listen, but to ask me to get councilors? Linda led the pack last time (against the power plant). That's how she got to be administrator."

Lowe said he told Kimball he would let Thibault know of Kimball's interest.

"My view on power plants has not changed," said Thibault who was a leader in fighting the 1999 proposal. "I think my position on power plants has always been very clear. That's what got me involved in local politics."

Thibault said Lowe told her that Kimball wanted to meet with her as well as Zwolenski and Leclerc to visit Blackstone plants owned and operated by American National Power. No mention was made of the two Democratic councilors, Patrick Keeley and David Lovett.

According to Constance Perreault, a member of Blackstone's Board of Selectmen, Kimball sold a piece of land from another one of his companies, Kimball Sand Company located in Blackstone, to ANP in order to operate a power plant in that town.

Zwolenski, who was also involved in the town's fight against Indeck, said he is not interested in visiting the site but will listen to any proposals that come before the council.

"If it doesn't have smokestacks, steam, noise, chemicals, I'll be amenable to review it," said Zwolenski. "Until it presents itself to be environmentally friendly and resident friendly, I certainly can't support it in this environmentally fragile area."

Leclerc also declined the invitation.

"Hell will freeze over before I support a power plant in our town," said Leclerc, who also worked as part of the Indeck opposition. "There is known particulate matter that emits from these particular plants."

He said that his research shows the particulate matter is linked to respiratory issues among neighbors.

Thibault said she was involved in researching information about particulate matter which is discharged from the plants during operation. She said the health problems associated with the matter was one of the major reasons she opposed a power plant.

Lowe said Kimball talked briefly with him about operating an off-peak plant. The change in operating hours as well as the change in company's may make this a good time to revisit the issue, he said.

"Times have changed. Some people will say today we should have looked at it but the ones who say no are louder than the ones who say yes," said Lowe. "If you're telling me there could be a $2-$3 million income, give me the stats and if you can convince three counselors..."

Lowe said his opposition to the 1999 proposal had more to do with the company making the pitch rather than the plans themselves.

"I always wanted to hear all that facts," he said. "When Indeck came they were the problem. The Indeck company was horrendous. I would have been devastated if they had run that plant."

All three councilors said that while attracting new businesses and sources of revenue for the town is important it's also important to target the right type of business.

While talking with The Breeze, Lowe was especially critical of Zwolenski saying, "I haven't seen him support a business that wants to come into town yet."

Retorted Zwolenski, "We need revenue but most business that has been proposed in town fails to hold up to the economic scrutiny of what they propose to bring in revenue to the town. Some businesses profess they will give you all this money but in reality they have a larger negative impact on the quality of life and require more services that diminish the return of what they've promised. Case in point, Dowling Village. Not all development is good development."

Leclerc said he wants to see some light industry or a "nice, clean office space" developed rather than a power plant.

"It's not a good business and not a good venue to have for good air quality," said Leclerc.

Linda-Jean Briggs, chair of the town's Sewer Commission and another resident who was at the forefront of the Indeck opposition, said she was surprised to hear that a power plant was being talked about again in that location.

"Nothing's changed and I'm not sure why we would invite a power plant any more now as back then," said Briggs.

The fact that it was an off-peak plant, one that runs only when the demand for power is high, did not sway any of the council members or Briggs in their position against any power plant.

Leclerc said that type of plant could actually be worse as it wouldn't nearly be as efficient as one that runs 24 hours a day.

As for Kimball, Leclerc said, "He should be playing with sand instead of power plants."

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