FERC Briefing Update: Thank you to all of our intervenors!

Dearest Fore River Campers,

On February 18, 2021, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) announced an Order for paper briefing on the Weymouth Compressor station. This was a paradigm shifting event.

We are more than pleased to acknowledge and to thank our delegation for intervening on the docket to file briefs to FERC on behalf of the residents of the Fore River Basin. Many thanks go out to Speaker Mariano, Sens. O'Connor, Keenan, and Timilty, Reps. Murphy, Meschino, Cusack, Ayers, and Chan. Your unwavering support of your constituents has been an inspiration to us to continue this fight.

We acknowledge and thank AG Healey, Conservation Law Foundation, the Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council, the Town of Braintree, the Acadia Center, MPLAN, BEAT, UU Mass Action, Mothers Out Front, Pipeline Awareness Network, 350 Mass for a Better Future, Climate Code Blue, North Weymouth Civic Association, the Weymouth School Committee, Councilor Mathews, Councilor Haugh, Councilor Burga, the Weymouth Town Council, Councilor Julia Flaherty, Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility, Dr. Philip Landrigan, Professor Nathan Phillips, Elizabeth Moulds (representing Hingham residents), and our partners at the City of Quincy for also filing to intervene on this docket. And we have just received news that our federal delegation (Sens. Markey and Warren, Congressman Lynch) will be involved as well. (More on that later.) We need all hands on deck as over twenty gas/pipeline companies and gas industry groups have also filed to intervene.

Our list of appreciation may grow, but this is an amazing start.

We all know that we could not have gotten to this point without our friends and allies in the grassroots movement, in Big Green, and in the state and federal government. It truly takes everyone.

We are sad to point out that the Town of Weymouth, who had fought along side of all of us, dropped all legal proceedings and submitted to a gag order for a paltry $10M and, therefore, cannot file a brief on behalf of the residents of the Town. The executive branch of Weymouth made the decision to also gag the Town Council and all departments and committees without their knowledge for this small sum. This is a life lesson in consequences. We are looking at a precedent setting event at FERC, and the Town of Weymouth cannot participate.

No matter the outcome, Campers, give yourselves a hug for getting this far, fighting the good fight, and never giving up. Keep up the good trouble.

In Solidarity and Resistance,

The FRRACS Team