In light of the FERC Scoping meeting coming up this Thursday, we are going to be doing a neighborhood canvas--dropping flyers on doors--in Weymouth and Quincy.
We will meet at the Lowe's Parking lot on 3A in North Weymouth at 10:00AM Saturday, May 14. We usually gather to the far right of Staples by the trees. Street maps and flyers will be provided.
Read MoreWednesday night's public meeting with the EFSB went on for nearly 4 hours. It was quite obvious that the people in the room really did their homework. Some brought up maps and signs, others referenced footnotes from the Atlantic Bridge EA, and some used their expertise in the medical field to cite reasons for concern in regards to health impacts. One individual said that their comments may reach 50 pages. Spectra has underestimated us.
One individual, from a labor union, did speak out in favor of this project, citing job creation and the need for clean, reliable energy. We would like to stress that neither Access NE nor Atlantic Bridge will bring us a wealth of new jobs or clean energy. According to Spectra's own documents, they will only hire 48-90 local workers across NY, CT, and MA, out of the proposed 605 jobs for Atlantic Bridge. Fracked gas is not clean - it releases methane which is 80x more potent than CO2. And the fracked gas will be transported up to Canada and exported for profit.
Click here for the The Patriot Ledger's coverage of the meeting.
The EFSB will provide their own recommendation to FERC based on the public comments that they have received. Email your comments to:
robert.j.shea@state.ma.us AND dpu.efiling@state.ma.us
For a guide on how send a comment to EFSB, FERC, or ConCom, click below.
The next meeting is the FERC Scoping Meeting: May 19, 6:30P - Abigail Adams Middle School
Don't forget that the state-level hearing with the Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB) is tomorrow, May 11 at 7pm - Abigail Adams Middle School. This hearing is specifically on Access Northeast.
FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) is a rogue, rubber-stamp agency. They have no congressional oversight and are funded by the oil and gas indusry. It's time that we change that.
Sign the petition to request an independent investigation of FERC.
Read MoreOver 100 people gathered on Saturday afternoon to protest Governor Baker's support of an $8 billion pipeline tax. People stood across the street from him, where he was attending an event. Our message was clear and Governor Baker could no doubt hear the chants coming from across the street. Demonstrators made their voices loud, yelling "Hey, hey, ho, ho, this pipeline tax has got to go!" and "We don't want your pipeline tax, we don't want your dirty gas."
Read MoreOn Friday, Mayor Hedlund announced that he turned down Spectra's deal. We thank him for doing what is right and we implore him not to waver to Spectra as this fight continues.
Quincy Mayor Koch chimed in and said that he supports the opposition and says that "We're all in this together." We certainly are; the compressor will impact communities far beyond North Weymouth.
Read MoreLast year when Obama finally rejected Keystone XL, the climate community rejoiced. TransCanada, the company banking on the project (literally and figuratively) was not quite as happy. Rejecting Keystone was a victory and since then, twenty other energy projects have been scrapped. People are beginning to realize that fossil fuels are not a viable energy source. So we must keep up the pressure here in Weymouth/Quincy/Braintree and beyond, because we can win.
Read MoreOur persistence has paid off! Thank you, Mayor Hedlund for making the right decision for the people of Wemouth, Quincy, Braintree, the region, the state, and the world! And thank you to all who called, emailed, and urged the Town to make the right decision.
More information to come - stay tuned!
Read MoreAfter news spread last week that Spectra had offered the Town a $47 million deal (with $23 contingent on specious legislation being passed), the community has been on the tips of their toes waiting to find out if the Mayor took the deal or not. As of today, May 5, we still have no word. The apparent deadline was Wednesday, May 4, but the Patriot Ledger reported that Hedlund texted them Wednesday evening saying that he had not "spoken with Spectra" yet.
We will update you if we hear anything further about this. In the meantime, continue calling and emailing the Mayor and the Town Council.
Phone - 781-340-5012
Email - RHedlund@weymouth.ma.us
Tonight we welcomed over 100 people - our biggest meeting yet! Thank you for coming out and sharing your thoughts and asking great questions. We had a packed agenda with updates about upcoming events this month. If you couldn't make it, you can access all of the handouts from tonight's meeting below.
Action Alert: We also announced an action for this Saturday, May 7. Governor Baker will be in town for an event and we will be there to tell him "No Compressor" and "No Pipeline Tax." We will be meeting at Abigail Adams Middle School at 1:30PM then walking over to Legion Field for the event that begins at 2pm (during tonight's meeting we said the rally was at 1PM, which was incorrect). Invite your friends and neighbors!
If you would like a No Compressor sign for your yard, send us an email and we can bring you one; signs are $5. NoCompressor@gmail.com
HANDOUTS:
EFSB Meeting - Commenting Guide
FERC Scoping Meeting - Commenting Guide
ConCom Meeting - Commenting Guide
Just as a reminder, FRRACS will be meeting tonight - Tuesday, May 3.
Read MoreComment periods for Atlantic Bridge (compressor station) and Access Northeast (pipeline and compressor expansion) are open through the end of the month.
Follow the instructions below to submit your comments.
Read MoreFERC released the Environmental Assessment (EA) for Atlantic Bridge today. Unfortunately, an EA doesn't hold much weight; it only skims the surface. Upon review of the EA, FERC could decide to issue a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which could delay Spectra's plans up to 6 months.
The comment period for the EA is open for 30 days.
Read MoreMay 11 - Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board public hearing - Access Northeast (state level)
Abigail Adams Middle School at 7pm
May 19 - FERC Scoping Meeting - Access Northeast (federal level)
Abigail Adams Middle School at 6:30PM
May 25 - Weymouth Conservation Commission - Atlantic Bridge (town level)
Location TBD
Read MoreOn Friday, April 29, a natural gas pipeline exploded in Salem Township, PA. The Texas Eastern pipeline is overseen by Spectra. One individual was injured and his home was destroyed. Nearby areas had to be evacuated, as well.
Read MoreAn explosion along a Spectra pipeline in Salem Township, Penn. resulted in a serious injury, and "blew a 12 foot deep, 1500 square foot hole and scorched 40 acres." The investigation is ongoing, but "the preliminary investigation shows evidence of corrosion on the pipeline."
According to Bloomberg News, Spectra claimed "force majeure" the day-of the accident. Per Bloomberg: "Force majeure is declared to remove a company from contractual obligation because of events beyond its control."
We must urge the Mayor to deny any deal with Spectra, before his decision is due next Wednesday. So please continue to call the Mayor and town councilors. Write them too.
PHONE - 781-340-5012
EMAIL - RHedlund@weymouth.ma.us
Join us Thursday, April 28 at 3:30PM right outside Weymouth Town Hall to remind Mayor Hedlund and Councilors that we can and we will fight Spectra.
Read MoreA Weymouth News article released today says that Mayor Hedlund is torn about making a decision about Spectra's deal because we are "out of time." We are most certainly not out of time. Spectra is concerned about our opposition and wants the town to sign the deal before the Environmental Assessment comes out.
Read MoreA day after our press conference, Mayor Hedlund announced that Spectra Energy has offered the town $47 million if the town ends their opposition to the compressor. Mayor Hedlund said that he is considering taking the deal.
Please call the Mayor and tell him not to accept any deal from Spectra: 781-335-2000
Read MoreLocal opposition to the proposed Natural Gas Compressor Station abutting a dense residential community
Every contribution helps us bring attention to this dangerous Compressor Station.
www.NoCompressor.com is maintained by Fore River Residents Against the Compressor Station.
Email: nocompressor@gmail.com
