New Haven Independent

The Branford RTM was the first governmental body to oppose the proposed liquefied natural-gas facility in the Sound with a resolution passed by a unanimous, bi-partisan vote in December of 2004.

The news floated through the room and reached RTM Moderator Sandra Reiners, who interrupted the RTM agenda, according to officials who attended the meeting.

“I’m about to do something that,we never do: Interrupt the RTM agenda with breaking news. It’s only fitting that we hear from Rep.[Lonnie] Reed. Representative Reed, do you have an announcement to make?”

Reed told the group that she had just received the news that New York Governor David Paterson had rejected Broadwater. The RTM burst into applause. She thanked them for fighting the project these last four years.

“That is how long we’ve been fighting this battle,” she said. “All of us, both sides of the aisle and the whole town joined forces to protect our beloved Long Island Sound.” Reed said in an interview with the Eagle that one of the lessons of Broadwater and of Hands Across Our Pond, the initiative Reed co-founded, is that Connecticut and New York must work together to come up with intelligent solutions to the region’s energy deficits.

She made the same point at a rally Monday at the Stony Creek dock. At that rally State Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, U.S. Rosa DeLauro and Joe Courtney, and three state senators, including Ed Meyer, who represents Branford, made a united plea to Governor Paterson to reject Broadwater.

Representative Reiners praised Reed, saying, “All of us owe a real debt of gratitude to you, Lonnie. You have been a leader in this fight from the very beginning. Congratulations for all you have done and for all that you have helped achieve.” The RTM once again applauded.

Rep. Frank Twohill, the Republican minority leader, then quipped that since the RTM has done such a stellar job fighting this battle, “shouldn’t we get a salary increase?” As everyone dissolved into laughter, Finance Director Jim Finch remarked, “I think you should get paid double what you are getting now.” More laughter erupted. RTM members serve without compensation.

Late yesterday Meyer, the Senate Chairman of the legislature’s Environment Committee and a longtime opponent of the Broadwater project, said Connecticut played a persuasive role in the New York governor’s decision: “All our efforts in Connecticut to persuade New York to reject this monster have worked, and we are saved from a natural resources disaster. The citizens of Connecticut spoke long and loud with one voice, and we were heard.”

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