Natural gas

More pipelines aren’t the answer

Energy/ Environment/ Opinion

More pipelines aren’t the answer

The weather outside is frightful – and so is our over-reliance on natural gas

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NEW ENGLAND IS in the clutches of a frigid winter. This is putting demands on our energy resources and driving up electricity prices during the few hours of the day when consumer electricity use is highest. Concerns over these temporary price spikes are warranted, particularly given their impacts on our most vulnerable. But year after(...)

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Time to revisit the need for more gas pipelines

Economy/ Energy/ Environment/ Opinion

Time to revisit the need for more gas pipelines

Renewable energy cannot meet demand without help

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NEW ENGLAND’S GOVERNORS, who for years called for increasing the delivery capacity of natural gas into the region, have largely gone silent. Today, the region is seeing the consequences with Bloomberg reporting December 27 that “spot prices more than tripled … and turned the region into the world’s priciest market.” Natural gas prices last week(...)

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Kinder Morgan’s pipe dream is economic nightmare

Environment/ Transportation

Kinder Morgan’s pipe dream is economic nightmare

CLF positions on T fare hike, natural gas are consistent

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THE JANUARY 22 opinion piece (“CLF’s contradictory philosophies”) by Anthony Buxton, an attorney for the energy company Kinder Morgan, argues that the Conservation Law Foundation’s (CLF) policy positions on MBTA fare hikes and electric consumer-funded natural gas pipelines are somehow contradictory. The problem with Attorney Buxton’s argument is that increasing gas pipeline capacity would neither(...)

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Pipeline needed before it’s too late

Environment/ Opinion

Pipeline needed before it’s too late

Endless debate over natural gas sacrifices attainable “good” for unlikely “perfect”

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SOME GAS OPPONENTS appear confused about the synergistic relationship between natural gas and renewables, as well as the climate benefits New England will realize with adequate natural gas pipeline capacity.  Both adequate gas capacity and increased renewables are essential to dramatically reducing New England’s carbon footprint, a conclusion supported by scientific studies. We formed Coalition(...)

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New England governors should lead region to a sustainable energy future

Economy/ Environment/ Opinion

New England governors should lead region to a sustainable energy future

Diversified sources, with clean energy in the mix, are key

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THIS WEEK THE New England governors will meet in Connecticut to discuss potential solutions to one of our region’s most serious economic challenges: the high cost of electricity and energy. This is not a new threat as the region has always been at the end of the traditional energy pipeline, costing ratepayers top dollar for(...)

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Should electric ratepayers pay for gas pipelines?

Environment/ The Back Story

Should electric ratepayers pay for gas pipelines?

Unprecedented proposal comes with risks

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THERE SOON MAY be a new charge on your electric bill for natural gas pipeline construction. The novel idea first surfaced last summer as the six New England states began exploring ways to bring more natural gas into the region, and now a group of companies pushing a pipeline expansion plan are spelling out in(...)

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A warning on natural gas

Economy/ Environment/ The Back Story

A warning on natural gas

Report suggests more pipeline capacity is needed

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JUST MINUTES BEFORE Charlie Baker became governor, the Patrick administration released a $250,000 study suggesting winter electricity prices are likely to remain very high for the next four years and additional natural gas pipeline capacity is needed to address the problem. The report by Synapse Energy Economics of Cambridge said the state is likely to(...)

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