MA Opponents Gaining Momentum in Gas Pipeline Battle

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Nicholas Handy, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

the line in blue is where the proposed pipeline would run through Worcester County

After a successful rally at the statehouse on July 30th, anti-gas pipeline advocates are hopeful that they have enough support throughout the state in order to get the proposed gas pipeline project that would run through the state shut down.

In addition to a wealth of residential support, many legislators and elected officials have been supportive of turning down Kinder Morgan Inc.’s Tennessee Gas Pipeline Northeast Energy Direct Pipeline.

“We have a tremendous amount of momentum on the local and state level, something that hasn’t really happened in any other pipeline case,” said Rosemary Wessel, Founder of No Fracked Gas in Mass. “We are watching Kinder Morgan like a hawk to ensure that we are on top of any moves they make. We are more optimistic than ever that we can stop this pipeline.”

Advocates say that the gas pipeline project is not only invasive to the property that it would run through, but is also unnecessary; if the state were to continue with their energy efficiency program then the additional gas and energy is not needed.

Legislative Support

Advocates are continuing to reach out to legislators in hopes that additional elected officials in opposition to the pipeline will further add to the argument that it is not needed in Massachusetts.

Many legislators – including Senator Elizabeth Warren, Worcester Rep Jim McGovern – have backed the anti-gas pipeline movement as of late by either showing up at rallies and protests or writing public statements in opposition to the pipeline.

“Before we sink more money in gas infrastructure, we have an obligation wherever possible to focus our investments on the clean technologies of the future — not the dirty fuels of the past — and to minimize the environmental impact of all our energy infrastructure projects,” said Warren in an Op-Ed piece that appeared in the Berkshire Eagle. “We can do better — and we should.”

Stepping Up to Federal Level

Anti-gas pipeline advocates in Massachusetts are concerned that now that there is such a statewide opposition to this pipeline, Kinder Morgan may try to look to a more federal approach to getting the pipeline approved.

Kinder Morgan has said that they plan to move up their application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to September. If their application with FERC is approved, Kinder Morgan will have eminent domain for their pipeline project.

“Our outreach is continuing in Massachusetts and soon will start in earnest in New York,” said Richard Wheatley, a spokesperson for Kinder Morgan, Inc. “Stakeholder outreach is a critical part of the process to educate and inform the public and officials about energy projects, to listen to stakeholder concerns, and answer their questions to the best of our ability. We plan to file a National Energy Policy Act pre-filing application with the FERC in September 2014; subject to receipt of regulatory approvals, the project plans a November 2018 in-service.”