Understanding the Depth of the Pipeline Explosions Tragedy

Several of our staff members attended the Senate hearing on Monday in Lawrence about the gas explosions. Zachary M van Luling shared this moving account of the hearing.

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We were all stunned when we saw the news coverage of the pipeline disaster in Lawrence and Andover, and then when we learned that thousands of residents had been forced out of their homes.

But sometimes it takes just a few simple words from the people most affected to truly understand the depth of the tragedy.

Hundreds of people attended the US Senate hearing on the pipeline explosions last Monday at a middle school in Lawrence. 

And we suddenly understood just how horrible this disaster was when the hearing started with a few simple words from the sister of the young man, Leonel Rondon, who was killed as his house exploded. 

His sister, Lucianny Rondon, said, “the grief we feel is unbearable. but we know Leonel would want us to stay strong. We will stand with the community on his behalf.  We hope there will be justice for him and the community.”

That’s all she said, before she couldn’t continue.  But those few words made me fully understand what a horror has happened to our neighbors.   

The company responsible, Columbia Gas, was incompetent from the start.  The explosions occurred because a technician failed to connect a pressure gauge to the right pipe. It took hours for the company to notify customers of the problem.  Many people lost their homes. And thousands of people, instead of preparing for the holidays,  are still stuck in temporary housing,  with the company pushing back the deadline for getting them back home, again and again. 

We still have much to learn about this tragedy.  One thing we can’t forget is that gas is inherently dangerous.  It can kill people.  We are in the middle of a debate in our state about our energy future.  The utility companies still want more gas, including new pipelines to bring fracked gas from Pennsylvania. 

But let’s stop and think for a minute.  We need to reassess our energy future and make sure we focus on clean and safe energy sources in the future.

We've Awoken to the Dangers Related to Fracked Gas and Pipelines

The pipeline explosions in the Merrimack Valley have awoken us to the dangers related to fracked gas and the pipelines that deliver it to our homes and businesses. This analysis by David Abel, a Boston Globe environmental reporter, summarizes the dangers: health risks, ground water contamination, gas leaks near our homes and under our streets (over 15,000 in MA), greenhouse gas emissions that may exceed coal and, of course, public safety.

We must contiune to work to stop more fracked gas pipelines, and to accelerate the transformation to renewable power. Fossil fuels are a bad choice, and we do have a choice.

In the meantime, please consider a donation to help the people and businesses that have been harmed in the Merrimack Valley. Click here to donate.

Poll Shows Dramatic Drop in Confidence in Natural Gas Infrastructure

The findings of a WBUR/MassINC poll reported last week show a dramatic drop in confidence in natural gas infrastructure and a drop in the public's view of gas in the state's energy mix. While some have attributed this to the aftermath of the Merrimack Valley explosions, a closer look at past data suggests that skepticism about gas had already taken hold among the electorate. 

First, There is overwhelming support for renewables:  84 percent of respondents said there should be more solar power in Massachusetts, while 80 percent  said the state should rely more on wind power. 

Reporting focused on the recent shift:  Natural gas saw the greatest shift in voter attitudes from 2015, when WBUR asked the same question.

This year, Forty-two percent of 2018 respondents said Massachusetts should rely on gas more.; 41 percent chose less. Three years ago, 50 percent of respondents said the state should rely more on gas and 31 percent chose less.

But the drop in support was even more dramatic in the previous 3 year period.  In 2011, fully 66% of people thought we should rely more on gas.  Gas adherents have gone from a 2-1 edge to an even question.  

Despite many millions in corporate advertising and a relentless political push, this fossil fuel is on its way to extinction.

If you would like to help the families who have been displaced or suffered hardship as a result of the pipeline explosions in the Merrimack Valley, please go to http://eccf.org/GLdisasterrelieffund

 Best wishes for a clean, healthy and safe enviornment, 

Andy 

Stop by the #NoPipelineTax Mobile

We've been cruising around the state in the #NoPipelineTax Mobile to educate as many residents as possible about the environmental and economic impacts of new fracked gas pipelines and a pipeline tax.  If we're going to stop the pipelines and the pipeline tax, we need to get everyone on board!

We'd love for you to stop by at any of our upcoming events:

• Wednesday, August 22nd 10am-3pm @ Lawrence Farmer's Market - Campagnone North Common, Lawrence, MA
• Thursday, August 23rd 3pm-7pm @ Medford Farmer's Market - Condon Shell Park
• Friday, August 24th 10am -3 pm- Lawrence Farmer's Market (Methuen) - 254 Broadway, RT 28, Methuen, MA
• Saturday, August 25th 8:30am - 1pm  @ Braintree Farmer's Market - Braintree Town Hall

And don't forget to plan ahead so you can join us and other organizations at East Boston's American Legion Playground on September 8th at noon for Boston RISE for Climate, Jobs, Justice: Rally & People's School.  

Omnibus Energy Bill Passes State Senate Unanimously

Thank you so much for your help, and for the solid victory that we achieved yesterday in the State Senate. Our senators gave us many, many  reasons to be proud, as they passed S.2545, the Omnibus Energy Bill, unanimously.

The bill includes a number of important provisions that would prohibit, and/or eliminate the "need" for natural gas pipelines, including: 

• a prohibition on pipeline taxes for any new gas pipelines that would provide gas for electric generators;
• a requirement that the Commonwealth consider alternatives to natural gas before building new pipelines;
• a provision that gives new authority to localities in the approval of compressor stations, and requires air monitoring near existing stations;
• a provision that would accelerate the amount of renewable energy in basic electric service from a 1% to a 3% increase annually;  and
• a requirement that the Commonwealth develop a plan, by 2023, for meeting Global Warming Solutions Act targets for 2030, 2040 an 2050. 

he prohibition on pipeline taxes would be enoug to kill Access Northeast, and prevent similar pipeline proposals in the future.  But the Senate kindly provided a belt and suspenders, two extra pairs of sox, galoshes and an umbrella ... just in case.  Hats off to them! 

Of course, the House must now pass similar provisions, or agree to the Senate's,  and we have our work cut out for us there, over the next month or so. 

But that is for tomorrow. Today, please take the time to pat yourself on the back, and click on this link to thank your state senator.  

Thanks to you, we are now closer to a safe, healthy and clean environment.

Pipelines We Will Never Need, Never Use, and Will Be Forced to Pay For

By the time new fracked gas pipelines are built, most renewable energy will cost less than gas, causing many gas-fired plants to close. That's the conclusion of a new study, released this week by the Rocky Mountain Institute and reported in Forbes. 

Even after these pipelines close, ratepayers like you and me will continue to pay for them, which, if you’re the Eversource Corporation -  is the beauty of it.  Massachusetts allows regulated pipeline companies and their investors to make the highest guaranteed profit margins in the country - up to 14% in some cases- which we pay for in our bills, until the pipelines are paid off, whether they are used or not!

Do we want more pipelines that we will never need, never use, and that we will be forced to pay for over the next 20 years?  If you think that’s a good idea, please ignore this post. If not, please help us to defeat them, now and in the future.

The best way to do that is to urge your elected officials to stop new fracked gas pipelines! Just click here to send a letter.

Best wishes for a clean, healthy and safe environment, 

New Report: New England Does Not Need More Fracked Gas Pipelines

As we’ve noted over the past year, ISO-New England is obsessed with getting more fracked gas pipelines into MA- even though independent analysis shows that we don’t need them and that they will cost consumers billions.  In January, ISO published yet another pro-pipeline report, this one labeled “fuel security,” saying, again, that we risk blackouts on very cold winter days with without more fracked gas. 

That ISO report turns out to have been dead wrong—and was based on  “flawed assumptions and unrealistic scenarios,"  according to the highly respected  Conservation Law Foundation (CLF). And, amazingly, ISO has corrected itself, issuing a revised report based on more accurate information.  The revised report now shows, according to CLF, that:   

“[T]here is virtually zero risk of rolling blackouts in the winter as long as the New England states continue to successfully invest in clean and renewable energy and energy efficiency on the pace required by existing state laws.” 

The Attorney General, the environmental community and consumer advocacy groups, like ours, have been saying this for a long time. 

The revised report is very good news, but we can’t rest until the legislature takes action to stop these expensive, unneeded pipelines, and the multi-billion dollar tax on consumers that will come along with them. 

Please take action.  Write your legislators today.  

PS: If you want to read CLF’s press release, or the report itself, you can click on this link.