Above Photo:
For the second year in a row a float with the theme of opposing Invenergy‘s proposed $1 billion fracked gas and diesel oil burning power plant has taken first prize in the Glocester, Rhode Island Ancients and Horribles Parade. The float and marchers won first place in two categories, Large Float and Best Current Event.
It should be noted that there were at least two groups opposing the plant marching in the parade, and that not everyone marching in the parade opposing the plant were backing all the messaging on display in the pictures below. The Burrillville Land Trust marched earlier in the parade and had its own messaging separate from the float and marchers who won awards.
Paul Roselli, president of the Burrillville Land Trust, spoke briefly (in the video below) about the need to finish the power plant off before next year’s parade.
After the Burrillville Land Trust and separated by some bands and other marchers came the award winning float.
This year, actors pantomimed Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena enabling Invenergy’s director of development John Niland as he consumed the Scituate Reservoir. Water bottles were handed out to those watching the parade that said, “Scituate Reservoir Water Hi-Jacked by Johnston Fenced to Invenergy (A Chicago Outfit).”
This was all in response to Invenergy’s plan to get the water it needs to cool it’s turbines. Invenergy has signed a deal with Johnston to truck water to Burrillville. Johnston gets its water from Providence Water. There is a lawsuit in Superior Court challenging this water deal.
Garnering special condemnation this year from many opponents of the power plant is Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. Whitehouse did not march in the parade today because he is in Afghanistan this week. Senator Jack Reed did march. Whitehouse, who campaigns as an environmental activist, has refused to meet with residents of Burrillville about the power plant. Despite his credentials as an environmentalist and the fact that the power plant is opposed by every environmental group in the state of Rhode Island, Whitehouse remains stalwartly neutral.
Many see this as hypocrisy.
