Trouble ahead if we ignore threat of global warming
By Canton CitizenDear Editor:
On August 9, our Board of Selectmen voted 4-1 to oppose a resolution submitted by the “No Canton Gas Pipeline” group that objects to the controversial Access Northeast project — a $3 billion proposed expansion of the Algonquin Gas Transmission system that would add five miles of new gas pipeline in Canton.
Did you know that one of the selectman who voted against the resolution, Victor Del Vecchio, was formerly president of Liberty Utilities, the largest natural gas utility company in New Hampshire? Is this not a conflict of interest as proven by the board’s recent vote?
Their red herring, i.e. diversion, is to convince we the citizens of this town that we need more gas energy in the Northeast to warm our homes, when we who understand that global warming is quite real know that by 2050 we will have a rise of seven to 15 inches of water level in the Seaport District. So if you work in that area where all the skyscrapers are rising willy nilly, ignoring the facts, you can look forward to tying up your boat to the marina on the 18th floor.
Another red herring was the excuse that by throwing in with Big Oil, the Canton BOS would have influence with what Spectra would be doing, what times they would be working on the pipelines, and other “important considerations.”
What difference does it make? In 2001 a series of gas explosions hit downtown Hutchinson, Kansas, resulting in two deaths and two buildings being destroyed. Gas was leaking from an underground storage cavern. Unintended consequences are what we are facing here. In 2008 workers constructing a new pipeline hit an existing natural gas pipeline in Wheeler County, Texas, injuring two workers. In 2006, a lineman for Midwest Energy hit a natural gas transmission pipeline and was killed. That same year, leaks in a propane pipe running below an apartment building in Milwaukee caused an explosion, killing three and injuring 47 others.
Don’t be deluded by the lack of publicity concerning these Trojan horses. The greedy utility companies behind these plans are hoping you won’t care, or worse, you don’t know enough to demand accountability from our regulatory commissioner and selectmen. The sad thing is we don’t need these new pipelines: just fix the leaks in the ones we have. Our earth is heating up. These pipelines will kill even more of the environment with leaking methane fumes, bringing us gas we don’t need. What we do need is more development of solar and wind. Let’s get behind that, buy stock in those companies and solar energy from the companies now building solar farms.
Sincerely,
Alice Brown
Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=34404
Posted by Canton Citizen
on Sep 30 2016. Filed under From One Citizen to Another, Opinion.
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