Energy company wants protesters to pay restitution

BURRILLVILLE – Three climate activists who bound themselves to construction equipment at a natural gas compressor station are looking at a legal bill.

According to a report by ecoRI News, the town’s attorney, Oleg Nikolyszyn, is seeking $30,000 restitution to be paid to Spectra Energy for the time and labor the Houston-based company lost during a Sept. 14 protest at the Algonquin pipeline transmission station.

An estimated 45-70 employees stopped work during the dawn protest.

One of those arrested, Nick Katkevich, said he and his fellow protesters, who were all charged with trespassing and disorderly conduct, don’t intend to pay for the three hours they delayed construction at the 16-acre site.

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The industrial-size pump station is one of several that push natural gas along a pipeline from New Jersey to a distribution hub in Everett, Mass. The Burrillville facility is adding a 15,900-horsepower engine to increase the volume of natural gas pushed through the 62-year-old pipeline.

The expansion of the compressor station and the pipeline has sparked many protests along its 1,200-mile route. •

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