The Department of Energy has released a report stating that LNG (liquefied natural gas) is likely damaging to the climate and will not lower emissions.
In an article in Think Progress, "One of the country’s leading experts on natural gas leaks [said], “a close reading of the DOE report in the context of the recent literature indicates that exporting natural gas from the U.S. as LNG is a very poor idea.”
Read MoreA 10-year moratorium on fracking bill (S 457) in Mass will be heard at the Senate floor session on June 9. Stay tuned for updates.
Read MoreFrom the Boston Globe:
"Thousands of natural gas leaks reported by the state’s utility companies disappeared from the records they later submitted to the state, according to an independent analysis by a Cambridge group that says their study shows the leaks have likely not been repaired.
Nearly 5,700 potentially explosive, environmentally damaging leaks — nearly 30 percent of all leaks that went unrepaired in 2014 — vanished from the utilities’ reported count between the last day of that year and the first day of 2015, according to a study of data the companies disclosed in March, the most recent public information."
Read MoreExcerpt from the Courier-Journal. Read the full article here.
"The Kentucky Supreme Court has let an appeals court decision stand that only regulated utilities can use the power of eminent domain to get land for pipelines.
That decision deals a blow to companies looking to lay new pipeline to carry natural gas liquids from through Kentucky from oil and gas fields in Ohio and western Pennsylvania to the refineries and ports along the Gulf Coast because it will make it more difficult and expensive to get the land they need. That became a controversial across Kentucky in recent years amid a boom brought on by new drilling methods using hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, with concerns about property values, safety, water pollution and property rights.
Read MoreOPPORTUNITY--OPPORTUNITY--OPPORTUNITY
FRRACS will be canvassing in Weymouth on Saturday in conjunction with 350MA for the coordinated "Don't do it, Charlie!" campaign. We will be dropping "energy bills" to residents to warn them about the pipeline tax that Gov. Baker is forwarding.
Details:
When-Saturday June 4, 2016
Meet at Staples on 3A--over to the right by the trees.
Time-12 to 2
Maps and flyers will be supplied
Leader-Rachel W.
Hope to see many of you there! Thank you for your activism!
The Boston Globe has two online polls regarding natural gas expansion in Massachusetts. Share your voice and let them know that you don't support new natural gas infrastructure.
Poll 1:
Poll 2: Should the state advocate against further construction of natural gas pipelines?
They may have the money, but we have the grit and people power to fight back. A recent article from E&E Publishing said that activists have delayed pipeline projects by "throw[ing] up more regulatory and legal roadblocks." The amount of time that it takes a company to go from proposal of a project to operation has increased from 3 years to 4 years.
Read MoreExcerpt from the Mass Live article. Read the full story here.
"The Massachusetts state Senate has approved a ban on building pipelines within 1,000 feet of a residential neighborhood, a school, or a senior center. The ban was adopted as part of the Senate's version of the fiscal 2017 state budget.
Read MoreFinal count down for commenting!
Access Northeast Scoping Period (pipeline/expanding compressor station). Docket PF16-1. Deadline is Tuesday May 31.
Atlantic Bridge Environmental Assessment (building a compressor station). Docket CP16-9. Deadline is Wednesday June 1.
www.ferc.gov
What a great event yesterday. We had over 50 people participate in the march who helped spread the word to passerbys. Take a look at photos from the event and stay tuned for more events happening this summer!
Photo cred: Micheal Curran
FERC is more than a rubber-stamp agency; they excel in the "conflict of interest" genre. Read below and online at DeSmogBlog about their latest bombshell.
Read MoreEfforts to block pipelines are growing throughout in the country. In Peekshill, NY, protesters blockaded the path of a planned gas pipeline that is slated to run near a nuclear power plant. Their action was covered by Democracy Now.
Read MoreALERT--ALERT--ALERT
In light of the recent articles regarding conflict of interest between FERC and Spectra, it has been suggested that people not only send their comment on the Atlantic Bridge EA to the FERC site or general snail mail address, but individually to each commissioner.
Read MoreSo a utility built a pipeline tax into their rate increase without permission? Who'd a thunk?!
Full article from Mass.gov below:
"New Hampshire Transmission (NHT) will refund New England ratepayers $6.8 million, with $3.2 million going to Massachusetts electric ratepayers, to settle allegations that the company improperly included millions of dollars of development costs in its transmission rates, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.
Read MoreDeSmogBLog has uncovered a serious conflict of interest between FERC and Spectra. We greatly appreciate their investigation on this issue. This could be big, so please share.
Full article below and online at DeSmogBlog.
Read MoreA local labor union in Ohio protested Spectra's employment of non-locals to repair pipelines in their community.
from the Dayton Daily News article:
"The local affiliate of Laborers’ International Union of North America rallied Tuesday on Cincinnati-Dayton Road to bring attention to what it says is Spectra Energy’s practice of outsourcing construction work and neglecting Ohio’s local workforce.
Read MoreThis is exciting news! Thank you to all who attended meetings and submitted comments - our efforts have paid off.
Of course, this decision doesn't scrap Spectra's project, but it is a good step. Unfortunately, Spectra can appeal this decision and it's possible that they could seek federal approval that overrides ConCom's denial. Regardless, we will celebrate and keep fighting.
Read the whole article from the Patriot Ledger here.
Read More
Just a reminder that the continuation of April's Conservation Commission meeting is tonight at the Humanities Center of Weymouth High School beginning at 6:00. Hope a lot of you can make it. If you can come and comment, remember to address wetland issues, water pollution, and loss of recreational space. This is mostly what the permitting is about in this case.
A couple of links--if you have the time--to look at:
Atlantic Bridge Supplemental Filing
Town of Weymouth site
A new study from the University of Victoria in Canada shows that the planet could warm a massive 10 degrees Celsius if we burn all fossil fuels. This would leave parts of the world uninhabitable. We must keep all remaining fossil fuels in the ground and move towards clean and renewable energy.
Read the whole from The Guardian.
Read MoreLast month, we received news that the NED pipeline would be suspended to due to lack of confirmed buyers. Today we learned that Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company has officially withdrawn their application from FERC. This is big! We CAN stop Spectra, Kinder Morgan, et al. from building toxic fossil fuel infrastructure; we just need to keep organizing and raising our voices.
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
