Springfield City Council President Jesse Lederman holds press conference on anti-gas pipeline resolution

SPRINGFIELD — City Councilors and opponents of a controversial Eversource pipeline planned to run from Longmeadow through parts Springfield took to the steps of City Hall Thursday to call for an end to the project.

They were met by officials from three trades unions, who countered that ending the project would mean eliminating hundreds of good-paying jobs for area workers.

“We’re here to voice our strong opposition to the redundant gas pipeline through the city of Springfield,” said Jesse Lederman, council president.

Daniel D’Alma of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local #7, shouted back: “What’s your plan if the existing pipeline goes down? I don’t get this. What are you trying to accomplish.”

The City Council voted, 9-0, on Monday on a resolution calling for the state to block the project.

The Longmeadow Selectboard has previously voted to oppose the projects, and six Springfield-area legislators have also expressed opposition.

At the City Hall rally Thursday, a letter authored by U.S. Sen. Edward Markey, D-Massachusetts, was read aloud in which Markey faulted the need for the pipeline and applauded those who are taking a public stand against it.

”I am with you,” Markey’s statement said.

Lederman, who authored the resolution adopted by the council, said the pipeline is an unnecessary, costly project that has the potential to harm the environment.

The Eversource plans call for an underground pipeline that would run between a new point-of-delivery station in Longmeadow near the Connecticut state line to an existing regulator station on Bliss Street in Springfield.

He repeatedly described the pipeline as redundant, saying it was how Eversource officials have described it.

“Ratepayers should not have to pay a premium to pay for a project that Eversouces officials themselves call redundant,” Lederman said.

Eversource says the second pipeline is needed to improve the reliability of the natural gas system in Greater Springfield. There are roughly 58,000 existing natural gas customers in Greater Springfield served by a single existing pipeline system that is around 70 years old. The proposed pipeline is seen as a way to reduce the chance of interrupted service due to maintenance or accidental disruption.

The pipeline project is under review by the state Energy Facilities Board, Environmental Protection Act Office and Department of Public Utilities. It also faces review at the local level during the permitting process. The review process could take two years.

Lederman said the council opposition has to do with Eversource failing to sufficiently explain why the project is needed.

“The resolution in opposition did not come haphazardly,” he said. “Since the proposal was first made, we have sought to understand the intent of the utility, the cost to the ratepayers, and the impact to the environment.”

He said Eversouce has presented “no evidence that the existing pipeline is showing signs of failing.”

He said that rather than paying for a new pipeline, Eversource should be investing in renewable energy sources, like wind and solar, in keeping with Massachusetts’ push to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030.

“The bottom line is it is time for us to take action for a cleaner, more affordable future at every level,” he said. “Charging up $65 million for a redundant pipeline is the opposite of what our utilities should be focused on today.”

Councilor Zaida Govan said Eversource should be investing in the expansion of solar and wind energy sources and training people to work in those industries.

She noted that Massachusetts has called for investment in clean energy with a goal of being carbon neutral by 2050. “We need to start now in 2022 to get to that point.”

Councilor Maria Perez said the pipeline “is a bad idea. It’s unnecessary, costly and damaging to the environment.”

Also speaking was Liv Stack, a 15-year-old city resident and environmental activist, who said its construction will add to air pollution in a city that already has high rates of residents with asthma.

“All pipelines leak methane. This will exacerbate the respiratory illnesses for so many people in the city who have respiratory illness,” Stack said.

At the conclusion of the speakers when Lederman asked if anyone had any questions, Daniel D’Alma asked what the alternative plan for city residents is if the existing pipeline goes down.

D’Alma said talk of wind and solar energy is fine but neither has the capability right now to replace natural gas as a primary energy source.

Lederman said he is not opposed to natural gas in general but has problems with “this particular pipeline,” citing the need for the project, its cost and the environmental impact.

Afterward, D’Alma, along with Michael Langone, manager for the pipefitters union, and Colton Andrews, president of the Pioneer Valley Trades Council, all chided opponents of the pipeline as naive to the reality of relying on 70-year-old energy infrastructure.

“It’s 70 years old. I’m concerned about what we do if something happens,”D’Alma said.

He said without natural gas in the winter, people would be unable to keep their houses warm or keep their pipes from freezing with space heaters.

“Every time you ask them what the alternative is, you get nothing,” said Langone. “If you want to say no to the pipeline, then what is the answer?”

D’Alma said construction of the pipeline would mean a lot of tradespeople in the valley would find work.

“It’s jobs. A lot of good paying jobs for the residents of Springfield.”

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