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Residents urge Town to oppose Quonset biosolids plant, battery and asphalt projects
Summary
Multiple residents told the North Kingstown Town Council they oppose a proposed biosolids pyrolysis plant, a large battery‑storage facility and ongoing asphalt operations at Quonset Business Park, pressing for legal, legislative and executive remedies and for additional public transparency and monitoring.
Dozens of residents used the town’s public‑comment period to press the council to block a proposed biosolids pyrolysis facility and related industrial projects in the Quonset Business Park.
“It's not dead, only delayed,” said James Sheehan, presenting a three‑pronged strategy of court action, gubernatorial intervention and state legislation to stop the facility. Multiple speakers raised technical and health concerns: speaker Karl Ashland warned that air‑permit emission estimates rely on modelling rather than operational testing, and Angie Sheehan asked the council to mail every household information about the projects, saying, “People have the right to know.”
Town Manager Ralph Mallus told the council that the town has been active in the legislature and is pursuing legal options. He said the town has retained outside environmental counsel and reported initial invoicing of $22,659 for 64 hours of legal work to prepare strategy and gather information. Mallus said the town will continue to press state lawmakers to include local representation on oversight bodies and urged residents to follow updates on the town’s official channels.
Speakers criticized permit redactions and sought independent verification and monitoring. Resident Karl Ashland asked whether the facility would commit to continuous emissions monitoring systems (CEMS) and for unredacted permit appendices to enable public audit. Others raised battery storage fire‑risk concerns and cited cases elsewhere to argue for stronger safeguards before permitting or operation.
The council did not take a formal vote on the projects during the meeting; the manager said he expects a fuller update on the town’s Quonset strategy at the next meeting and that the town will continue coordinating with neighboring communities and state officials.
