Anti-pipeline study does disservice to local energy customers
By GuestDear Editor:
Your recent story about the proposed Access Northeast gas pipeline project, “New report questions costs, need for pipeline project” (Canton Citizen, 3/2/17), highlights a seriously flawed analysis of the need for additional pipeline infrastructure here in New England. While your balanced story included comments from Spectra Energy refuting the study, I feel compelled to further add that the study, funded by environmental groups, does a disservice to Canton electricity and natural gas customers by overstating the costs of Spectra’s Access Northeast project and underestimating the cost savings provided by new pipelines.
The lack of additional energy infrastructure threatens our energy reliability, increases energy costs, and hurts ongoing efforts to lower greenhouse gas emissions. Right now, electricity prices in New England are 47 percent higher than the national average. Inadequate natural gas supplies are a driving force behind these high prices. ISO New England (the independent operator of the region’s power grid) has repeatedly warned that the lack of new natural gas capacity poses a “current, and growing, reliability risk.” The study referenced in the article refutes some 10 other studies that come to an opposite conclusion.
We need it all — wind, solar and energy efficiency — but we cannot ignore the need for additional clean, reliable and affordable natural gas.
Stephen Dodge
Executive Director, Massachusetts Petroleum Council
Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=35728
Posted by Guest
on Mar 17 2017. Filed under From One Citizen to Another, Opinion.
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