Chirichiello: The High Risk of Failing to Modernize Our Energy Infrastructure

The High Risk of Failing to Modernize our Energy Infrastructure

If we are to solve the problem of New Hampshire’s rising energy costs, then we need an honest discussion of the inherent rewards in modernizing our energy infrastructure — versus the guaranteed risks of doing nothing.

That means recognizing the need to construct new energy pipelines to deliver the natural gas necessary to heat our homes and businesses, recognizing the long track record of safety of America’s energy pipelines, and doing everything possible to minimize any negative impact of these pipelines on our communities and our environment.

Instead of using the recent Alabama fuel pipeline leak to spread fear in an effort to obstruct our energy infrastructure improvements, we should instead use it as a valuable learning experience to help shape our energy security here in New Hampshire.

First, let’s recognize that this leak was an unfortunate incident in which the pipeline company acted quickly to sure that no one was harmed and nearby waterways were not contaminated.

Second, it’s important to realize that no energy source is 100% risk free. The best we can do is to follow the stringent safety procedures and regulations that reduce risk as much as possible.

In the case of pipelines, consider the fact that 99.999% of crude oil and petroleum products reach their destinations safely, according to the Association of Oil Pipelines. While that’s less than the pipeline companies’ stated goal of “zero incidents”, it is certainly close.

In the .001% of cases where accidents do occur, it’s vital to have a plan in place to minimize injury and environmental impact.

That’s exactly what has happened in Alabama.

With policies and procedures already had in place, the company immediately identified the leak, contained any leaked fuel, and formulated a Unified Command team with the Environmental Protection Agency, State of Alabama, local and county officials and conservation groups to address the situation and mitigate environmental impacts.

Third, we can weigh that inherently low risk against the guaranteed risk of not building out our energy infrastructure. That includes the risk of continuing to import our energy from foreign regimes that don’t share our country’s values. Or the risk of counting to have historically high energy prices here in New Hampshire due to a lack of energy infrastructure to heat our homes and businesses.

In fact, New Hampshire is a “net importer” of energy, which means we use significantly more energy than we produce. That means we have to “import” our energy from other parts the country.

The success and affordability of any import/export system relies largely on the quality of delivery mechanism: Highways, waterways, railways — and, in the case, of energy, pipelines.

Unfortunately, the lack of modern energy infrastructure here in New England disrupts that importing process. This is a major reason we pay 53% more for our electricity that the rest of the country.

Some studies estimate that this has cost New England as much as an extra $7.5 billion during the past three years.

That’s a hefty price tag — but it’s the guaranteed risk of not acting to improve our energy infrastructure.

Those risks also include environmental, as new infrastructure would be used to transport clean-burning natural gas, which has been credited by the Obama Administration with helping to reduce carbon emissions to historic lows.

The Alabama leak was an unfortunate incident and is certainly cause for concern.

If we let it stymie efforts to improve our energy infrastructure, however, the costs of that incident will far outweigh any actual environmental or human damage caused by the leak.

Nothing in this world is risk-free. Not the cars we drive, the planes we fly, or even the food we eat.

The track record of our energy infrastructure, however, is almost risk-free. That’s much more than can be said for the costly and guaranteed risks — paid for by the pocketbooks of New Englanders — inherent in doing nothing.

Brian Chirichiello

State Representative & Chairman of the Derry Town Council