PROJECT INFORMATION
If approved, a 24" high pressured pipeline will be laid through approximately 3 miles of residential property in the town of East Freetown, to transport fracked gas from the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania, and be compressed and stored as Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) in newly constructed LNG storage tanks in the town of Acushnet.
We oppose this project for a multitude of reasons, including:
False claims of need
ISO New England projects electricity demand to grow at less than 1% annually, yet this project alone would increase the LNG storage in the region by 34%. New England doesn't need more natural gas to keep the lights on; we believe this excess gas is intended for exportation.
False claims of savings
These companies claim that increasing our dependence and consumption of natural gas will lower our energy costs, but when they start to export the product to international markets, where the rates are as much as TRIPLE what they are here, we will be competing with those markets to purchase our own domestic product, which in turn, will drive up our prices here.
Economic impacts
These companies want the electric rate-payers to foot the bill for this $3.2 million dollar project, which may end up costing double that amount, based upon studies conducted. If this project is so desperately needed, it stands to reason that the companies would have no problem investing in it themselves.
Climate Disruption
Per the EPA, "Methane's lifetime in the atmosphere is much shorter than carbon dioxide (CO2), but CH4 is more efficient at trapping radiation than CO2. Pound for pound, the comparative impact of CH4 is more than 25 times greater than CO2 over a 100-year period." We are already seeing rising seas, dying crops and extreme weather patterns as a result of climate change. We cannot afford to further exacerbate it by continuing to extract, transport and consume fossil fuels as part of our way of life.
Environmental impacts
The process of extracting "natural" gas (known as fracking) is contaminating water supplies and causing earthquakes in the communities where it takes place. Wastewater from fracking is being dumped in undisclosed places, which inevitably leads to poisoned rivers, streams, soil and crops.
For a more in-depth review of the reasons behind our opposition, please read our full statement of opposition here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OlGvNDDTFeqbfLWHMdVOQ6yPiJDicHrT/view