Springfield-Just a few months after environmental justice advocates celebrated their victory over the proposed biomass-burning power plant, the Springfield Climate Justice Coalition once again mobilized against a line from Longmeadow to Springfield A natural gas pipeline and a transit station in Longmeadow to support it. On November 4th, residents, politicians and activists from Springfield and other areas gathered on the steps of Springfield City Hall to express their Objections to the new pipeline.

"We don't have time for Eversource to build unnecessary fossil fuel expansion through our communities, use our money, and put our people at risk," said Naia Tenerowicz of Now Climate Action. "We need to use every penny, resources and workers to stop the doomsday worship in the fossil fuel industry."

Representatives of Eversource stated that this approximately US$40 million pipeline would be "surplus" and that if the existing line across the river from the Agawam substation fails, this is a backup pipeline. The existing pipeline was built about 70 years ago and crosses the Memorial Bridge. It is the only natural gas pipeline that serves 58,000 homes in Springfield. Representatives from Eversource said that a major power outage may take more than a month to repair, requires 1,600 gas technicians, and prevents approximately 200,000 people from using gas heating. 

In a virtual public forum on November 9, Eversource employees emphasized the vulnerabilities of the current network and the "urgent" need for backup infrastructure. The company refers to the 5-mile pipeline as the "Western Massachusetts Reliability Project." 

"It is designed to resolve faults west of the river or on the bridge. This is not an expansion project. It will not generate any additional gas or any new customers," Eversource project manager Richard Salvarezza told attendees. "The total flow into the system will remain the same."

"If the Agavam Station or the Memorial Bridge fails, there will be an unprecedented large-scale blackout. This is something we have never seen in the history of the company," Salvareza said. "People worry about our reliance on this single source of customers."

According to Salvarezza, this emergency and dangerous situation should be something Eversource has been working on since 2017, when the State Department of Public Utilities approved an additional pipeline proposal on the east side of the Connecticut River. Initially, Columbia Gas had been looking for a new pipeline to Springfield, but after a series of natural gas explosions in the Merrimack Valley on September 13, 2018, the company was forced to pay a fine of $53 million. The largest criminal fine in the company's history. Federal Pipeline Safety Act and stop natural gas operations in Massachusetts. Eversource acquired Columbia Gas and its assets for $1.1 billion in a deal finalized last year.

"Over the years, the company that operates the system has changed. It has become larger, our customer base has expanded, and the demand for natural gas has been great," Salvareza said. "Over the years, in the course of our construction of this system, the Connecticut River has constituted an important natural barrier. That's why we found ourselves in this situation, that river had only one source or supply."

Verne McArthur, leader of the Springfield Climate Justice Alliance, pointed to some apparent contradictions in Eversource's defense of "reliability." Both the old and new natural gas pipelines will be connected to the Bliss Street transfer station in Springfield, which means that the failure at this time will still cause widespread service interruptions. Although the company claims that the new pipeline will not expand Eversource's customer network, according to their own forecasts, the customer base is expected to grow. 

"Eversource did not say that there are any problems with the existing pipeline. It has lasted for decades-and survived the direct attack of tornadoes," MacArthur said. "In addition, the proposed new pipeline will be four times the existing pipeline, and this large new transfer station needs to be established in Longmeadow."  

The new pipeline will begin with a new delivery point system built in Longmeadow by the Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, Eversource's interstate natural gas supplier. According to Eversource, the Tennessee Gas Company has applied for a permit to build the station in a residential area on Hazardville Road. The pipeline will then travel along the Longmeadow curve along Shaker Road and Laurel Street, and then along East Columbus Road to the existing Bliss Street transfer station in downtown Springfield, currently located on MGM Way. 

"This is a desperate attempt to provide returns to Eversource shareholders before they really get rid of fossil fuels," MacArthur said. "And taxpayers will pay for it, and more and more people cannot get rid of natural gas: poor and low-income natural gas users."  

For many activists, the existential threat of climate change has prompted them to oppose the large-scale construction of fossil fuel infrastructure, but the apparent contradictions, potential safety hazards, cost and scale of construction projects are also a major issue.

"We need to move towards clean energy, and building a new pipeline isn't doing that," said Zaida Govan, the newly elected City Councilor for Ward 8 and president of the Indian Orchard Citizens Council. "Why not invest in solar energy and electricity? Eversource will still make money, so why don't we do something similar instead of investing in this new pipeline?"

Gowen is the main organizer of the Springfield Climate Justice Coalition's anti-biomass campaign, which successfully stopped polluting wood-fired power plants in her community. Part of her opposition to the new pipeline was that a friend was maimed by a gas explosion in the Merrimack Valley in 2018. She urged Eversource to address known gas leaks in existing pipelines before constructing new pipelines. 

"Of course, we will feel this in the bills we receive from Eversource, because of course they will not pay for themselves, they will share the costs with residents and customers, but they will not share the profits," Gowen said. "If we consider safety and the future, let us repair the current gas leak so that there will be no another accident in Merrimack Valley and another explosion on Worthington Street."

Salvarezza stated that they will invest in "state-of-the-art technology" to address audience concerns about pollution, safety and methane leakage. He said that after the company has "actively reduced" in recent years, there are currently 28 known leaks in the Springfield area. Eversource did not share any plans to upgrade the 70-year-old pipeline between Agawam and Springfield. 

When asked why the old pipeline was not upgraded or replaced, Salvarezza said, “Regardless of whether the pipeline is replaced or not... it still cannot resolve the fact that the pipeline is supplied as a single source.”

According to MassLive, although Eversource pursues this multi-million dollar investment, the company is also appealing to 87 communities across the state for their property tax assessments and withholding payments in the process. Since the start of the lawsuit in 2012, the company has owed the City of Springfield approximately $44 million.

"Last year we were fighting a biomass power plant, which was less than 5 miles from my home in Springfield," Tenerovic told Shoelace. "So I really got involved and I continued to work after graduation. Now I am a member of the Climate Action Steering Committee, and I feel like being in it."

The Springfield Climate Justice Alliance is composed of dozens of environmental advocacy and social service organizations, including the Indian Orchard Citizenship Council, the rise of social justice, climate action now, and community action work. Govan is a key player in the fight against the power plant and is now leading the allegations against the proposed pipeline.

"I will talk to my city council partners, and I will help them see the dawn of opposition to this pipeline, as well as any other issues that may affect climate justice in our conference hall in the future," Gowen said. 

Tenerowicz is not the only activist connected with the Springfield Climate Justice Alliance through the struggle for biomass. Mireille Beijani of Community Action Works worked closely with the Springfield Climate Justice Alliance and stated that the Eversource project is a test of the state's commitment to the next-generation climate roadmap law, and its stated goal is to be carbon neutral by 2050. 

"This pipeline proposal is a test for our state government and officials: before adding another source of pollution, will they consider the cumulative impact on Springfield? Will they center on the most affected frontline community?" Bejani said. "For a long time, communities like Springfield have been the site of harmful projects and have no say in the decision-making process."

Senator Ed Markey also opposed the pipeline and sent his policy adviser and regional director Jossie Valentin to represent him at the press conference on November 4, "Fossil fuel pipelines are very dirty, dangerous and harmful to public health and the environment. ," Valentine said. "Building a new fossil fuel infrastructure is not in line with the scientific necessity of tackling the climate crisis. We don't need more pipelines to increase the profits of natural gas companies."

According to Eversource spokesperson Priscilla Ress, the company plans to listen to the opinions of the community and make corresponding plans. "As a comprehensive public process has just begun, we are committed to working closely with neighbors and stakeholders at all levels in the community. Listen to their opinions. Their feedback and opinions," she said in a statement, but did not answer other questions. 

During the open day, the Eversource representative read aloud the statement of opposition from Longmeadow Select Chairman Mark Strange, "The risk of damage to the production line has not been quantified. The Longmeadow expansion project is part of a larger natural gas expansion project," he wrote. "The Tennessee Gas Company has agreed to build an instrument station at the Long Meadow Country Club, and has paid a considerable price for it."

The Longmeadow Pipeline Awareness Group was recently established to oppose the new transfer station and attended the rally on November 4. According to the team leader, the proposed site is located on the property owned by the Longmeadow Country Club, close to Wolf Swamp Elementary School. 

"Who will pay for these additional costs? The town's budget is very limited. We have no way to absorb these costs or the risks to school children and homeowners," Strange wrote. "Except for public health and safety risks, the residents of Longmeadow will not benefit from the safety line."

Later last week, State Senator Adam Gomez and State Representatives Carlos Gonzalez and Orlando Ramos met with Eversource to discuss the project. 

"We oppose any natural gas expansion or potential projects including natural gas expansion, especially in Springfield," Gonzalez told Masslive. "However, we will continue to discuss their reliability projects and preferred routes. In addition, it will not only affect the city and residents of Springfield, but also the suburbs."

This pipeline will transport methane gas from Longmeadow along I-91 to 5.4 miles of downtown Springfield. According to Eversource's calculations, the preferred route will pass through 986 neighboring points, and there are alternative routes, including routes that pass through the forest park, add two miles, and pass hundreds of homes and businesses.  

During the open forum, Salvarez said that the new pipeline “will not hinder” Eversource’s plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. Company representatives shared a vague plan on how to achieve this goal: not by investing in solar or wind energy, but by pursuing geothermal and hydrogenation technology projects. 

Eversource plans to submit their proposal to the Massachusetts Energy Facility Site Selection Committee before the end of the year to begin a two-year regulatory review process. They are still collecting public feedback before submitting the final proposal, and if everything goes according to plan, construction will begin at the end of 2023. 

"I don't want to fund and destroy my future, and I won't stand by, because Eversource fuels the fire that burns my dreams," Tenerovic said. "I beg Eversource to scrap this proposed natural gas pipeline and metering station and instead use their resources to subvert the climate crisis. I warn them that if they don't abandon this project, we will fight them every step of the way."

Sarah Robertson is a member and author of The Shoesstring.

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