Weymouth Gas Compressor Station Opponents Gain Big Court Victory

WEYMOUTH, MA — Opponents who have been relentlessly fighting the construction of a gas compressor station in Weymouth are celebrating what they call a victory in the battle after a federal court vacated the special air permit that would allow the station to operate.

The First Circuit Court ruled Wednesday that "because we find that the (Department of Environmental Protection) did not follow its own established procedures for assessing whether an electric motor was the Best Available Control Technology, we vacate the air permit and remand the agency to redo that analysis."

While the decision does not halt the Fore River project, obtaining the air-quality permit was a significant hurdle for Algonquin Gas Transmission in the approval process of the station, and a main source of attack from those who want to see the project modified or shut down.

Algonquin Gas Transmission had argued in front of the DEP that the electric motor was not viable because it was not cost effective and put too much strain on the surrounding electrical grid.

"We don't have all the answers yet," The Fore River Residents Against the Compressor Station, a chief critic of the station that has organized protests, sit-ins and petitions against its construction throughout the process, said in a statement. "But on a quick read it means that the DEP made the wrong decision and Enbridge will have to go back and re-evaluate the installation and use of an electric turbine, as opposed to a gas turbine. It means that, although Enbridge may continue constructing, they cannot operate the facility without the air-quality permit.

"And it gives us more room to fight to stop it from every happening."

In its ruling granting the permit, the DEP sided with Algonquin Gas that the gas compressor would not cause substantial changes to the air quality in the area.

But local and station officials aligned with environmental and residents' groups to oppose the decision as part of a fight against the compressor station being located in such a densely populated area because of its impact on air quality, soil and the dangers to large populations in the event of a catastrophic incident.

"The town has continued to raise concerns regarding the public health and safety impacts the construction of the compressor station will have on our residents and remain committed to stopping construction," Braintree Mayor Charles Kokoros said in response to the ruling on Wednesday.

The full, 54-page court opinion can be found here.