To the editor:

Recent news accounts tell us that remedies to the gas outage of a year ago are still in the talking stage. Now we read that they are going to form a commission to study and evaluate. I guess that’s better than being held “for further study.”

A year later we learn that we still don’t know what happened to the 2013 proposal to increase gas supplies to the island. You got to give National Grid credit; they sure know how to duck. We have also learned that that Lt. Gov. McKee’s legislation is still on hold. Once again, kudos to National Grid. This really isn’t rocket science, gang. Will the commission hold its meetings on Aquidneck Island? Don’t bet on it.

This whole matters reminds me of when Rhode Island moved with great speed. For instance, tolls on the Sakonnet Bridge were passed faster that a speeding billet. Or bond authorization for sewers in Portsmouth, to the tune of $145 million, was considered in about 60 days.

To give RIDOT its due, they did respond to the falling Stone Bridge abutment with great speed. This is contrasted with their lack of response to fix East Main Road, now 45 years old, or to construct the Town Center, now 10 years old. 

In the meantime, we continue to haul natural gas peaking supplies over ancient, unsafe highways and through residential neighborhoods for further storage in residential neighborhoods.

Don’t bet on any local hearings.

Philip T Driscoll

169 Immokloee Drive

Portsmouth

Editor’s note: National Grid has scheduled an open house from 4-8 p.m. on Monday, March 30, at Middletown High School, 130 Valley Road. It will be expo style with kiosks for guests to visit and have their questions addressed, including the topic of the LNG operations on Old Mill Lane.