Pipeline debate gets testy on Twitter

Tim Murray, a Worcester business leader and the former lieutenant governor, got into a testy natural gas policy debate on Twitter over the last few days with a number of pipeline opponents.

It started on Tuesday when Murray, president of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, retweeted a story from the Daily Hampshire Gazette raising concerns about New England’s shortage of gas in late December and early January, which forced the region to generate electricity by burning 2 million barrels of oil.

“Underscores why we need natural gas as bridge fuel while we aggressively pursue renewable energy future. Jobs and our environment are on the line here in Massachusetts, especially in Gateway Cities,” Murray tweeted.

The comment prompted a lot of pushback from individuals and groups who oppose the construction of new natural gas pipeline infrastructure. Some called natural gas a “bridge to nowhere.” Others were opponents of a natural gas compressor station in Weymouth and wanted to know where Murray stood on that. And some accused Murray of shilling for a pipeline company – Spectra Energy, a subsidiary of Enbridge Inc. — that is a member of his Chamber of Commerce.

In a telephone interview, Murray stressed that he is supportive of transitioning to clean energy, and pointed to many of the policies and laws enacted when he was lieutenant governor under former governor Deval Patrick. But as the state makes that transition, which he indicated could take decades, Murray said officials should listen to companies complaining about the high price of electricity and the high cost of doing business here. He said an “absolutist approach” of no new pipelines will cost the state jobs.

The Worcester chamber recently joined the Coalition for Sustainable Energy, a new group of business organizations pushing for more pipeline infrastructure.  “To me it’s not unreasonable to expand an existing pipeline,” Murray said.

Emily Norton, director of the Massachusetts chapter of the Sierra Club, jumped into the tweet storm, suggesting Murray should listen to the young people criticizing his policy stance. “They have learned they have to take care of their own futures. #ParklandStudents”

“There is no justification for supporting more fracked gas pipelines,” Norton said in an email. “Climate change is caused primarily by the burning of fossil fuels. We are seeing quite vividly the effects of climate change here locally, and it’s only going to get worse. It is the height of irresponsibility for Tim Murray or any leader to suggest we should be doubling down on fracked gas – which is a fossil fuel — at this time in history.”

 

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Click here for a Twitter exchange between Murray and Timmy Sullivan.

Bold policies like Green Communities Act,GWSA Act created tens of thousands of new Green Collar jobs in MA. President Obama’s climate scientist said likely several decades before we are fossil fuel free. In meantime replace oil w/ nat gas as we strive for 100% renewable future. https://t.co/vUNpPoQ2ml

— Tim Murray (@TimMurray_MA) March 8, 2018

Click here for an exchange between Murray and Robert Kearns, a UMass student and member of the Sierra Club executive committee.

C’mon Robert, that dog don’t hunt. Are you going to screen shot & tweet the many solar, renewable & energy efficiency companies that are part of the Worcester Chamber as well ? Let’s support aggressive energy plan that preserves jobs & enviro as we pursue renewable future ASAP. https://t.co/D2pZtEnKPa

— Tim Murray (@TimMurray_MA) March 8, 2018

Click here for another exchange with Kearns.

Disappointing @UMassAmherst @UMassSGA Student Gov. Senator @RobertKearns response to tweet about natural gas as bridge fuel to preserve jobs & environment triggered innuendo laced insults. Importance of jobs & environment require respectful conversations https://t.co/Ik8hIOReUH

— Tim Murray (@TimMurray_MA) March 8, 2018

Click here for an exchange between Murray and Blue Mass Group, a political blog.

Don’t recall you talking about Polartec in Lawrence closing & moving to Tennessee w/ energy costs being a major factor. Hundreds of good manufacturing jobs lost. I am well aware of New Bedford. You may be aware it was a Patrick- Murray Administration initiative. https://t.co/9hoM0paLrW

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About Bruce Mohl

Bruce Mohl is the editor of CommonWealth magazine. Bruce came to CommonWealth from the Boston Globe, where he spent nearly 30 years in a wide variety of positions covering business and politics. He covered the Massachusetts State House and served as the Globe’s State House bureau chief in the late 1980s. He also reported for the Globe’s Spotlight Team, winning a Loeb award in 1992 for coverage of conflicts of interest in the state’s pension system. He served as the Globe’s political editor in 1994 and went on to cover consumer issues for the newspaper. At CommonWealth, Bruce helped launch the magazine’s website and has written about a wide range of issues with a special focus on politics, tax policy, energy, and gambling. Bruce is a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. He lives in Dorchester.

About Bruce Mohl

Bruce Mohl is the editor of CommonWealth magazine. Bruce came to CommonWealth from the Boston Globe, where he spent nearly 30 years in a wide variety of positions covering business and politics. He covered the Massachusetts State House and served as the Globe’s State House bureau chief in the late 1980s. He also reported for the Globe’s Spotlight Team, winning a Loeb award in 1992 for coverage of conflicts of interest in the state’s pension system. He served as the Globe’s political editor in 1994 and went on to cover consumer issues for the newspaper. At CommonWealth, Bruce helped launch the magazine’s website and has written about a wide range of issues with a special focus on politics, tax policy, energy, and gambling. Bruce is a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. He lives in Dorchester.

— Tim Murray (@TimMurray_MA) March 8, 2018