Would you believe me if I told you that we live in a dictatorship in Massachusetts under Charlie Baker?
Gov Baker likes to pretend he won’t tell people what to do, but in some very important cases he has all the power to force his agencies to do (or not do) things whether it breaks the law or not.
I have written about the gas transmission compressor before on BMG, as has Charley. If you’ve been able to follow all the twists and turns of this terrible project, you’re permanently gobsmacked.
Wait, what “terrible project”? Check out the links to previous posts at the end of this post.
I’m here this morning to ask for help. I’m here to pass on some directions for an action that will hopefully get our “nice guy” Governor to actually follow the law. I can hear some of you: “ah hell, what’s happening now?”
On June 3rd, our lawsuit challenging the air permit against Baker’s DEP gave those of us fighting the compressor a long-awaited victory! The 1st circuit court vacated the air permit granted by Baker’s DEP. The judges found DEP broke the law in granting the air permit. “Yay!”, right?
Wouldn’t you imagine that a vacated air permit would stop construction until the air permit issues were sorted? Nope. Construction of the compressor has continued unabated since the June 3rd. Gov Baker’s DEP had enough cause to stop construction but has thus far refused to do so. Y’all, the compressor is nearly finished (sad face)
Enbridge could turn on the compressor without a valid air permit with no resistance from Baker’s environmental agencies.
Enbridge can have their “shake down” period where they calibrate the compressor (for 6 months!) without an air permit. That would mean tons and tons of raw methane and other chemicals blanketing the Fore River Basin with zero repercussions and zero regulation.
We are scared, angry, and still as determined as ever to fight like hell.
Will you please join us in the action below, even for a few minutes to copy/paste an email to DEP? An urgent request from Fore River Residents Against the Compressor Station:
Dear Friend of FRRACS,
We are reaching out again to ask you for a favor. This is very important as we are putting every effort into stopping the nearly finished compressor station from ever operating. Enbridge knows this is likely to be a “stranded asset,” and, sadly, one that will be paid for by the gas ratepayers. Please help us to make this a very painful lesson for this greed driven company.
On September 8, comments are due to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on the vacated air quality permit. The 1st Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the permit based on one thing–that Enbridge and the DEP did not do the full BACT (Best Available Control Technology) analysis as required. In this case, they should have explored the use of an electric motor drive (EMD) as opposed to a gas fired turbine. Enbridge (Algonquin) has had to go back and explain themselves, and the DEP simply rubber stamped their new BACT explanation.
It’s all very complicated, but we have prepared a list of possible questions/comments for you to send into the DEP. Go here to see the list of comments and a sample letter. Choose one or several–it’s up to you! Instructions on emailing and snail-mailing are at the top of the document. If you are feeling motivated and adventuresome, here are all of the documents pertaining to this vacated permit at this point. You can read and make your own questions and comments. You might even catch them in something we missed!
In 2017, YOU sent over 1500 comments on the original air quality plan approval. This was amazing! We would love to see you do this again–or even top your last effort! You are all truly incredible.
Remember, comments must be in the hands of the DEP by 11:59pm on September 8, 2020. Emailing is essential, and you can send a back up copy via snail-mail if you want as well. We are counting on you!
Thank you, as ever, for all that you do.
In Solidarity,
The FRRACS Team
Can I count on y’all to tell Gov Baker’s DEP that laws are laws and no one person or industry should be allowed to break them? The Fore River Basin needs you! Massachusetts needs you.
Thank you!
PS: If you have gas service to your house, please be aware of these two things
Around 80% of the gas Massachusetts uses is fracked gas from the Marcellus Shale region of Pennsylvania, and that is the gas that will run through the compressor on up to Canada for export overseas.
As a gas ratepayer, YOU will pay more for your gas because Enbridge wants gas ratepayers to help pay for the unneeded Weymouth gas compressor. What?! Read more here. The ratepayer scheme went unchallenged after Baker’s DPU approved it. Thanks for NOT continuing your fight, AG Healey.
*Previous posts:
