MONTPELIER – A group of area climate activists called attention to the climate crisis today in front of an Exxon/Mobile station along Route 2.

They hung a banner opposing three fossil fuel pipelines: Vermont Gas' proposed natural gas pipeline under Lake Champlain, the Trailbreaker pipeline and the notorious Keystone XL pipeline.

“While the Vermont Public Service Board considers permitting a natural gas pipeline under Lake Champlain, the climate is in crisis. We oppose the expansion of all fossil fuel infrastructure, whether it be the Vermont Gas natural gas pipeline under Lake Champlain, the Trailbreaker pipeline in the Northeast Kingdom, or the tar sands pipelines in Texas. At this stage of the climate crisis we must do everything possible to keep the oil in the soil and the gas in the ground.” said activist Heidi Wilson.

Earlier in the day organizers with Rising Tide Vermont in Burlington unfurled a banner in front of the Vermont Gas offices reading, “No New Pipelines: Stop the Keystone XL Pipeline Stop the Lake Champlain Pipeline.”

Organizers with Rising Tide said they chose to target Vermont Gas because of their recent proposal to construct a natural gas pipeline under Lake Champlain. Vermont Gas was also chosen as a target because all natural gas in Vermont arrives via pipelines owned by TransCanada, the Canadian company constructing the Keystone XL pipeline.