NEWPORT, R.I. – The Newport City Council has renewed its opposition to a proposal that would bring liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments into Narragansett Bay.
An artist's rendering of what the proposed shore-side facility would look like should a proposal to construct an unloading platform in Mount Hope Bay is approved. (Courtesy Weaver's Cove Energy)
In a unanimous vote on Wednesday, the council approved a resolution introduced by Councilor Steven C. Waluk that expresses concerns over a plan by Weaver’s Cove Energy, LLC to construct an off-shore LNG terminal in the middle of Mount Hope Bay.
States the resolution: “This proposal could have significant negative economic and environmental impacts on the east bay region, including periodic bans on boating along the East Passage, temporary closures of the Pell and Mount Hope Bridges and extensive dredging causing destruction of fish habitats in Mount Hope Bay.”
It’s the latest of now several public stands the city has made in opposition to bringing LNG tankers into the bay. Similar resolutions were also passed during the debate over plans to locate on-shore offloading facilities in Providence and Fall River.
However, ever since the Mount Hope Bay facility picked up a critical endorsement from the U.S. Coast Guard, public resistance to the project is being urged as increasingly important, according to opponents.
Waluk, who served as mayor from 2006-2008, has been a vocal opponent of bringing LNG tankers into Narragansett Bay since being elected to the council in 2001.
In an email to Newport Now written last week, he described Narragansett Bay as “our most precious natural and economic resource” and went on to say that the transit of LNG tankers through the East Passage will have “a serious negative impact on many facets of the maritime industry and recreational boating. Anything that poses a threat to these significant parts of Newport’s fabric must be opposed.”
His sentiments coincide with the launch of an aggressive anti-LNG campaign by Save the Bay, which like Waluk, point to the potentially devastating environmental consequences for the bay should the project be approved.The resolution also follows similar action taken by town councilors in Jamestown, who on Monday also voted to express their town’s opposition to the Weaver’s Cove project.
Both resolutions will be forwarded to state lawmakers for their consideration. Newport Councilor Stephen R. Coyne asked that the city’s previous resolutions against LNG also be included.
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Newport, RI
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Good for the City Council! Construction and operation of the LNG facility in Weaver’s Cove would be a disaster for Narragansett Bay and those of us fortunate enough to live by it. Opponents of the project need to be organized and vigilant if we are to stop the relentless LNG port developers.
it isa great relief to me and my family that the city of newport would offer this. I take my sons fishing quite often and it would be devasting to the sport fishing and to the people who relie on the bay for there economic growth. Not to mention the impact on tourism , what would happen to all the cruise ship passengers that would not come here, not to mention the traffic on the bridge,with easy pass,by the way is not that easy, traffic would be backed up toJamestown bridge. PEOPLE JUST SAY NO TO LNG! We have lived here long before this and we should have the final say! NOT the COAST GUARD!!