MOSCOW, November 15 (Sputnik) – Environmental activists from New England are planning a rally Saturday to express their disapproval of the plans to build a natural gas pipeline from Pennsylvania across Massachusetts as Keystone XL bill is allegedly to gain traction in Congress after the GOP triumph on midterms.
Social and environmental activists from Massachusetts, New Hampshire and New York have gathered for a “Stop the Pipeline Statewide” Summit in Fitchburg, MA to protest the planned construction of Kinder Morgan Inc.’s natural gas pipeline that will stretch across the state from Richmond, MA, near the New York border, to Dracut, MA, close to New Hampshire boundary.
The realization of an energy infrastructure development plan of such a large scale is "a bad plan anywhere in New England," the rally organizer Cathy Kristofferson said as quoted by Associated Press.
Activists say that the state of Massachusetts, along with the rest of New England, needs more environment-friendly renewables like solar and wind energy. They argue that the government of the state should concentrate on creating more jobs in green energy sector instead of allowing a pipeline that will ensure the dependence of the entire Northeast on fossil fuels for decades to come.
"We do not need new fossil fuel infrastructure designed to bring us dirty fuels for 50-80 years into the future," Kristofferson said in a statement.
The planned statewide pipeline is a development project of the Houston, TX-based Kinder Morgan Inc., whose primary goal is to increase their revenue by supplying natural gas to New England. Local supporters for the pipeline say that the Kinder Morgan’s project will provide cheaper energy.
The pipeline still requires approval by the authorities. As a result of the midterms, the current Democrat governor Deval Patrick is leaving office and Charlie Baker of the GOP is taking his place. Patrick’s administration previously said the project pipeline is crossing a lot of wilderness, where near-extinct species of animals live, any their decision on the project would be negotiated with the federal regulators.
The environmentalists have expressed hopes that governor-elect Baker would take decisive actions to concentrate on green energy. There have been allegations the pipeline could be rerouted via the southern part of New Hampshire, but this only brought the Granite Stater environmentalists to the protest.
The Kinder Morgan’s gas pipeline project would require the construction of 125 mi of new pipe in MA, along with 52 mi of pipe of connection with the already existing gas transportation infrastructure in MA and NY, as well as modernization of the current facilities.
The events in Massachusetts are unfolding against the recent developments in the controversial Keystone XL project, which was approved by the House Friday, and now that the Senate in controlled by the GOP, there is little doubt the project will gain traction in Congress. These events could mark a losing streak for the environmentalists, as now that oil prices are down, the competitiveness of the renewables and green energy is severely crippled.
