Mayor Elorza made the following statement today regarding the proposed LNG facility in Providence, Rhode Island:
“The entire world is threatened due to climate change and we must move away from fossil fuels. In Providence, we have set ambitious goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and we are leading the way to becoming carbon neutral by 2050.
The proposed plant would process liquid natural gas that is extracted through hydraulic fracking, which is devastating to the environment and the surrounding communities. Providence does not want to perpetuate or expand fracking, nor do we want to be burdened by the risks associated with a liquefaction plant in Providence.
There are clear energy policy and market signals at the local, national, and international level telling us that we should be investing in renewable and clean energy. Our future is in projects like Deep Water Wind and investing in clean heating sources like geothermal and electric heat pumps, not more fossils fuels.
I have listened to the community and I have listened to the experts. With all the information that I have seen on this matter, a liquefied natural gas plant is clearly not in the best interest of the city and I do not want to see the project move forward. Providence has the opportunity and moral obligation to be leaders in clean, renewable energy and that is the direction our city should move in.”