Eversource, National Grid Pull Out of Spectra Pipeline Project

DEDHAM, MA — A pipeline that would go though multiple towns in the area suffered a setback this week.

Tuesday, National Grid and Eversourse pulled out of the Spectra Energy known as Access Northeast and will not buy capacity on the pipeline, according to WBUR. The pipeline was designed to bring natural gas storage to the area, with the propose pipe traveling through many area towns including Sharon, Stoughton, Braintree and Weymouth.

A separate project, the Algonquin Incremental Expansion, includes Westwood, Dedham, and West Roxbury

The project suffered a setback last week when the state's Supreme Judicial Court ruled that a plan to fund $3 billion in upfront construction costs through ratepayers was against state law.

The project has invoked protest and strong opposition across the region. Groups against the project cite health concerns and the lack of need for more natural gas in the area. Supporters, however, argue that if the region had enough gas during the winter of 2012, it would have saved annual greenhouse gas emissions equal to 625,000 cars.

Spectra Energy told the Patriot Ledger that they still plan on moving forward with the project.

Photo via Flickr user ripperda, licensed under Creative CommonsAttribution 2.0