The directors of the Newport County Chamber of Commerce voted unanimously to object to Hess Corp.'s s proposed plan to build an Liquefied Natural Gas berth in Mount Hope Bay.

The vote was based on research that showed that increased tanker activity will have a substantial negative impact on the economy of Newport County and Rhode Island, particularly to the state's hospitality, marine trades and defense industries.

In June 2006, the Newport County Chamber of Commerce and the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority commissioned an Impact Study by Ninigret Partners to examine the overall impact LNG tankers would have on Narragansett Bay.

The Chamber said findings of the study, "LNG Transit through East Passage: Potential Impact on Aquidneck Island Development," are valid now as the number of vessel transits are the same as the first Hess proposal. The proposal would also have an unforeseeable impact on other economic systems and future projects within Narragansett Bay, the Chamber said.