Natural Gas Pipeline Concerns Aired at Shrewsbury Meeting

Last week at the Shrewsbury Public Library, concerned citizens gathered for a presentation discussing proposed plans to build a fracked natural gas pipeline extension through a number of Massachusetts towns. Hosting the presentation was Bryan Moss, Shrewsbury Town Meeting member and the founder of Sustainable Shrewsbury, a local citizen’s network. The presentation was given by Carolyn and Rand Barthel, members of the environmental group 350Mass.

The Access Northeast project is being proposed by Spectra Energy, a Houston-based company with support from local energy utilities. Planned construction would run through various locations in Massachusetts and source natural gas fracked in Pennsylvania. A branch of the pipeline called the West Boylston Lateral is planned to run through nine towns including West Boylston, Shrewsbury, Grafton, and Upton.

Last May, the Board of Selectman in Upton wrote to the Department of Energy citing opposition to the pipeline for health and safety concerns and a town meeting vote later in the year affirmed that opposition. Other towns may follow suit. In Grafton, for example, selectman have rescinded permission for exploratory surveys. Both of these actions are important steps towards the ability of local governments to resist powerful corporate interests which the 350Mass presenters say are more interested in selling the gas to other countries than using it to help Massachusetts ratepayers lower energy costs.

The presentation discussed a number of health and safety issues related to proposed location of the high-pressure pipeline which would run through highly populated areas and pass close to the high school and town water supply. Any leakage occurring near the aquifer could introduce hazardous chemical contaminants into the town’s aquifer. The presenters noted that there are already 20,000 leaks needing to be fixed in the existing gas pipeline infrastructure.

From a safety standpoint, pipeline explosions can be devastating to the surrounding area. They are so unmanageable that local firefighters are asked not to respond but rather wait for company experts to arrive on the scene. Concern has been heightened because a residential feeder line natural gas explosion occurred in Shrewsbury in 2013.

The meeting organizers are urging citizens concerned with the safety or necessity of this project to join the dialogue by sending an email to Sustainable Shrewsbury at the Web address below.

Additional information: https://sustainableshrewsbury.wordpress.com/pipeline/

Contact Sustainable Shrewsbury: https://sustainableshrewsbury.wordpress.com/contact/