On Wednesday, we attempted to meet with leadership at Atlas Holdings, one of the co-owners of the Merrimack Generating station. When we demanded that they shut down the coal plant and cease their unethical gas-powered bitcoin mining project on Seneca Lake. No Coal No Gas was immediately ejected from the office. In response, we created a protest art installation with signs and several buckets of coal delivered to their doorstep, for which we were detained and given warnings by the Greenwich Police.
On Thursday, we arrived at the Stamford CT headquarters of Castleton Commodities (the other co-owner of the plant), which was put into lockdown by police and security to prevent us from entering. We chanted and sang outside with banners, signs, flyers and chalk art before dropping a banner above a major highway thoroughfare.
Beyond Castleton and Atlas, the Merrimack Generating Station is also kept afloat by our regional grid operator ISO New England, which uses ratepayer dollars to fund power plants. That’s why on Saturday, we visited the residence of ISO New England President and CEO Gordon Van Welie, demanding a transparent plan for a rapid grid transition and an end to coal subsidies. We delivered a written copy of our demands to his door, together with a container of coal from the Merrimack Generating Station, amid banners, speeches, and chalked messages.
Throughout the week, it was very clear that Atlas, Castleton, and the ISO took us extremely seriously, and were alarmed by our mere presence. We were frequently harassed by police, refused meetings, and ejected from public spaces. Dana reflected, "Their fearful reaction to our nonviolent presence speaks to the moral bankruptcy going on here.” We are heartened to know that those in power are paying attention and reacting to our presence and message. If you’d like to join us in sending a message to ISO’s supervisors, go here, and check out this interview to learn more about our corporate campaign!)
