PITTSFIELD — A group of lawmakers in the Berkshires is opposing a gas pipeline proposed for northern Massachusetts.
Lawmakers on Friday cited environmental, economic, public safety and public health concerns.
The proposal by pipeline operator Kinder Morgan Energy Services of Texas calls for a section to be built along the northern part of Massachusetts, ending in Dracut, north of Boston, where it would connect with transmission lines owned by other companies.
Sen. Benjamin Downing, D-Pittsfield; Rep. William Pignatelli, D-Lenox; Rep. Gailanne Cariddi, D-North Adams; Rep. Paul Mark, D-Peru; and Rep. Stephen Kulik, D-Worthington said the proposal is not in the public interest.
The pipeline plan stems in part from a push by the six New England governors to boost the region’s supply of natural gas.
“As legislators representing communities to be impacted by the proposed Tennessee Gas/Kinder Morgan Northeast Direct gas pipeline, we want to make our opposition to the project clear. We oppose the project for environmental, economic, public safety and public health reasons. In recent months we have heard a message of overwhelming opposition from our constituents, on those grounds and others. We have performed our due diligence and met with various state agencies, project proponents, environmental organizations, local laborers and our constituents to better understand the project, all issues surrounding it and state government’s role in the process. While it is clear the ultimate power in permitting and approving the project rests with the federal government, in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), it is our responsibility as state legislators to speak for our communities. As such, we have come to the conclusion that while building the Northeast Direct Gas Pipeline would provide the economic benefit of providing good jobs with good wages for local labor, the project as a whole is not in the public interest. We can and should do better.”
State Senator Benjamin B. Downing
Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin & Hampden District
State Representative Stephen Kulik
1st Franklin District
State Representative Gailanne M. Cariddi
1st Berkshire District
State Representative Paul W. Mark
2nd Berkshire District
State Representative Smitty Pignatelli
4th Berkshire District
