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Climate activists protest mega-merger of Vt. utilities

By Stephen Mills
Times Argus
MONTPELIER,Vt. — Downtown traffic in the Capital City was severely disrupted for three hours Tuesday during a protest against Canadian companies acquiring controlling interests of two Vermont utilities.

Extinction Rebellion, a climate change activist group in Vermont, blocked the intersection of State and Taylor streets and Governor Davis Avenue and held banners that read, “Let’s Get Fossil Free,” “Keep it in the Ground” and “Business as usual equals Death.” They were protesting outside the People’s United Bank building during a Public Utility Commission (PUC) hearing of a petition to allow the acquisition of controlling shares of Vermont companies that provide gas and electricity utilities in the state.

The climate activists were part of a new U.S. movement, following in the footsteps of the Extinction Rebellion that began in Britain last year with protests that paralyzed central London. The socio-political movement uses non-violent resistance to protest climate change, biodiversity loss and ecological collapse that could lead to human extinction, hence the movement’s name. In May, Extinction Rebellion activists disrupted a session at the State House to protest a lack of legislation to combat climate change in Vermont.

A letter from fellow climate activist group 350 Vermont urged the PUC to reject the petition for the transfer of control of Vermont Gas Systems (VGS) and Green Mountain Power (GMP) to Noverco, Inc., which already holds a 79% interest in the companies that own VGS and GMP.

VGS and GMP are owned by Canadian company Energir LP, which is jointly owned by the Canadian companies Energir Inc. and Valentir Inc. Noverco is seeking to buy out Valentir Inc., according to the petition before the PUC. Another company, Enbridge, Inc., which owns an equity interest of Noverco, is one of the largest energy suppliers in North America and is also involved in the proposed acquisition. The PUC, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, company shareholders and a Quebec court would have to approve the transaction, according to the petition before the PUC.

350 Vermont has crossed swords with VGS in the past over its construction of a gas pipeline through Addison County, and helped block the extension of the pipeline under Lake Champlain to the International Paper Plant in Fort Ticonderoga, New York.

In its letter to the PUC, 350 Vermont criticized Noverco and Enbridge’s “climate policy” and goal of fracking for natural gas because of concerns about methane emissions.

“Methane has an 84 to 87 times greater Global Warming Potential (GWP) than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period,” the letter stated. “Although natural gas is touted as clean burning, the industry does not account for methane leaks and emissions during fracking, transport and distribution.”

The letter also noted that Enbridge had an average of one pipeline incident every 20 days between 2002 and 2018, in addition to the largest inland oil spill in history. The Kalamazoo River Spill dumped an estimated 820,000 gallons of oil into a critical water supply in southwest Michigan, despite Enbridge’s knowledge of system defects five years before the spill.

“Noverco and Enbridge will have greater influence over most of the utility corridors in Vermont, which could be used for additional pipelines to transport oil, gas or tar sands from Canada to markets in New England,” the letter added, asking the PUC to deny the transaction.

Activists outside the PUC hearing held their ground despite a request from police to stop blocking traffic.

“That is part of our message, that we’re sorry for inconveniencing people on their morning commute but we would like them to acknowledge that the catastrophic effects of climate change that are here and yet to come will be more inconvenient,” said activist Asa Skinder, of Montpelier. “Essentially, Enbridge is the biggest company here, a Canadian energy company that already owns Vermont Gas and Green Mountain Power, but they’re trying to buy out the about 40% public share, which would give them more power over what happens in the state.”

Kyle Landis-Marinello, PUC general counsel, said there was no disruption in the PUC meeting by protesters, or intervenors in the case represented by Bristol attorney James Dumont.

Speaking following the meeting, Dumont said, “The interveners are deeply concerned that Enbridge, which is a huge natural gas development company, is increasing its control of the company that owns Vermont Gas and Green Mountain Power.

“The hearing that we had today did nothing to dispel that concern. The evidence increased the concern. We hope (the PUC’s) decision will be the right decision. We can only hope for the best,” he added.

The PUC adjourned Tuesday’s hearing and set a briefing schedule, with initial briefs due Aug. 2 and reply briefs due by Aug. 9, followed by a period for comments by parties involved and the public before the PUC deliberates and issues a decision.

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