Weymouth to Take Legal Action Over North Parcel Sale to Spectra Subsidiary

WEYMOUTH, MA — The purchase of a portion of the North Parcel from Calpine Energy to Algonquin Energy was done without local approval, Mayor Bob Hedlund said.

The mayor of Weymouth announced Wednesday that he has instructed town legal counsel to file an action in Norfolk Superior Court on behalf of the town against Algonquin Energy, a subsidiary of Spectra Energy for its failure to comply with the state’s subdivision control laws. A lawsuit is expected to be filed in the next few days.

"Calpine sold Algonquin a portion of their land without getting local approval to divide or subdivide their land. If Algonquin cannot comply with laws that every landowner must follow—this example only being the latest, what faith do we have in Algonquin’s abilities to comply with laws unique to natural gas companies?" Hedlund said in statement.

The sale, which Hedlund said was expected, is likely to be in breach of several agreements and obligations Calpine has to the town, Hedlund said. Hedlund said that he believes the company has violated a 1999 tax break agreement that says the company can't divide the property.

The announcement comes on the same day that residents protested a proposed Spectra Entergy compression station near the Fore River Bridge.

Earlier this year, Hedlund rejected a mitigation agreement that would have seen the town drop their opposition to the project. In May, the Conservation Commission denied an order of conditions for the station's construction.

Image: file photo