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Date: 7/21/2022
SPRINGFIELD – State Sens. Eric Lesser and Adam Gomez, along with state Reps. Bud Williams, Brian Ashe, Orlando Ramos and Jacob Oliveira issued a joint letter in opposition of Eversource’s Western Massachusetts Natural Gas Reliability Project on July 11.
Background
Eversource Energy introduced the gas reliability project during the latter half of 2021, with the proposed structure adding a new point of delivery system in Longmeadow. The proposed project would also install a 5.3-mile underground steel main line between the new Longmeadow location and the gas line’s existing regulator station on Bliss Street in Springfield, as well as upgrades to the existing gas line connected to an Agawam regulator station.
So far, the project has been met with critiques by several leaders of the affected communities. Springfield City Council President Jesse Lederman requested an independent cost-benefit analysis from the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) in November 2021. Lederman questioned the viability of the project as society continues to embrace clean energy options.
“If we know that the benefit is not really there, then I think you’re going to have a strong case for the DPU to push back on this proposal,” said Lederman in an interview with Reminder Publishing in November 2021.
Longmeadow Fire Chief John Dearborn also expressed concerns regarding the effect of construction. Potentially catastrophic damage near the dam at the Longmeadow Country Club, which has been listed by the Massachusetts Office of Dam Safety as a “significant hazard,” poses risk to life and property if a failure were to occur. Citizens of Longmeadow have also made their opposition heard as a part of the Longmeadow Pipeline Awareness Group.
State legislators’ letter
In the joint letter, the state legislators cited safety concerns and negative climate effects as central reasons for their opposition. The legislators submitted the letter to Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act office Director Tori Kim.
“I am concerned about the potential health hazards that the Eversource project may have on the residents of Springfield and Longmeadow. Therefore, I continue to remain opposed to the pipeline where the Eversource Project would degrade air quality, increase the risk of fires and explosions in the community and contribute to climate change,” said the legislators.
The letter said the project would negatively impact air quality through the release of methane and other pollutants. The legislators expressed that the pollutants put children and the elderly at risk, and noted that Wolf Swamp Elementary School in Longmeadow sits less than a third of mile from the proposed project site. The letter also listed negative impacts pollutants would present to Springfield communities already impacted by polluting industries.
“This project, therefore, risks worsening Springfield’s already poor air quality and exacerbating the city’s dangerously high rates of respiratory illness. As an environmental justice community, Springfield already bears a disproportionate share of negative health and environmental impacts and should not be further afflicted by an expanded pipeline,” said the legislators.
Another concern presented in the letter includes the dangers of installing a pipeline project. The legislators alluded to a 2012 pipeline explosion in Springfield and a 2018 gas explosion in the Merrimack Valley as instances of the installation process causing negative side effects.
“Pipelines leak and gas leaks have the potential to cause devastating fires and explosions. Springfield already knows how dangerous gas can be after the 2012 explosion that injured 18 people and damaged 42 buildings. Moreover, families in the Merrimack Valley are still trying to recover from the deadly gas explosions and fires that occurred in 2018,” said the legislators.
The letter concludes by discussing the project’s adverse impact to the state’s clean energy initiatives. Currently, the state intends to reach 50 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and a net zero in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
“Eversource’s pipeline would increase Springfield and Longmeadow’s greenhouse gas emissions at a time when we need to dramatically reduce them to help curb the climate crisis. … Not only is the new pipeline inconsistent with the state’s net zero policy, but it impacts the climate change goals of the entire state,” said the legislators.
Readers interested in learning more about the proposed project can visit https://www.eversource.com/content/general/residential/about/transmission-distribution/projects/western-massachusetts-natural-gas-reliability-project.