Making Our Case

Things have been rolling along in the Citizens vs. TPG Pipeline Public Case. For weeks now, young people from all over America have been riding the proposed pipeline routes, giving the Earth a voice through their presence and words.

People all over the Commonwealth, as you can see from the awesome posts from my co-authors, have been speaking for their communities and the resources beneath their feet. Even Boston heard about the pipeline when WGBH actually let Roberta Flashman ask Governor Patrick a question about the pipeline. I didn’t know if they would let a non-Bostonian speak, let alone a person who was going to put the Governor in the corner. But they did! And now, Mr. Governor, if you’d like a reminder of the document you signed, we can make it available to you. Those of us who are working against the Pipeline have really been doing their research, much more than me, I’m afraid.

So now comes the Tyngsboro/Dracut Rally in the Lowell/Dracut State Forest! Thanks to Better Future Project, the folks that brought us the Climate Summer Riders (Thank you! One and All!) there will be a great presence speaking for those towns, and the remainder of “We Blasted Towns.” It looks like solar power really wants to show its stuff, too, as the weather is calling for a glorious days for raised voices and heightened awareness!

Then, next week, scores of people will be at Boston Common for the Big Rally! Let’s make it hundreds, even thousands, on July 30 from 11-1 in front of State House. Let’s remind the government, both state and federal, that they work for voters, not for Kinder Morgan or any other corporation! Those corporations think with their wallets, and they don’t breathe air or drink water. They don’t care about our environment – they don’t live here, or really anywhere!

But the Rally can’t be the end of things. The TPG/Kinder Morgan pipeline project will be a spectre over this region until the time comes when energy comes from sun, wind and water. They will be waiting for people to get complacent, and maybe a little cold, and then they’ll raise those ugly heads of theirs. We need to be vigilant, active and involved!
Natural gas is a “bridge fuel to nowhere.” Like an oil-bearing train, it brings short term gain with long term costs, and a track full of danger along with it. It’s time to Change things up, and make sure that the future is considered, not just tomorrow, but for next year, and beyond.

Rolling March in Pepperell

“Russ Schott reports that the Pepperell Walk was held on Tuesday and the event ran smoothly, and seemed to be enjoyed by all, despite the 90 degree temperatures.   Our intrepid group of walkers, maxed out with a headcount of over 80 men, women and children (and a few dogs), during the morning segment.   At noon the group stopped at Pepperell Town Hall, and we had over 100 people (including a walking group from Hollis, NH, who walked north following a proposed line) line up for a group picture, holding signs and performing “No pipeline chants”.

From Facebook, credit to Kristin Yargeau

Highlights included:

·         Stopping at the Pepperell Brick One Room School for a picture;

·         Stopping at one of the nicest vistas in Pepperell on Win Duke’s farm, overlooking his hayfields and scenic pond.   His farm is one of the “places in peril”, as the Pipeline is proposed to pass between his home and pond;

·         Stopping for a loooonnnng water/energy bar/watermelon/orange slice/shade break in between Win’s and Paula Terrasi’s homes;

·         A similarly nice break at Vince and Denene Premus’s home, (impacted property owners) where Vince spoke passionately to the group about how the threat of the pipeline is affecting their lives.

·         A nice 3/8 mile walk across the Keyes Farm Conservation Area, one of Pepperell’s nicest conservation lands;

·         And lastly, completing the Walk on property owned by Paul and Mimi Matisse on the banks of the Nashua River.   This property will also be directly impacted should the pipeline be approved.    There we met Groton resident Marion Stoddart, founder of the Nashua River Watershed Association, who was then joined by nine (9) canoes and seven(7) kayaks, for the paddle across to the Groton side of the River.

(photo S. Stromsted)

·         Paula Terrasi and Russ Schott then made the hand-off of the symbolic Pipe to Groton residents Richard and Diane Hewitt and Nick Miller, at the stone boundary along the Ayer-Nashua Rail Trail/Bike Path.   Groton’s Walk will be held on Wednesday, July 23^rd.

·         Our total walking route was 5.1 miles, and our paddling route was .5 miles;

·         Many thanks to Stephen Wicks and his Partner Judy who gamely moved ahead of the Walkers and Paddlers and worked tirelessly to film the Walk and river crossing, and to Jeanne Nevard and other photographers, who took countless still photos.   We hope to post photos once they are processed, later this week.    Additionally the Pepperell Police and Fire Departments provided wonderful safety support during the Walk and the river crossing.”

Pipeline Resistance Rally at Clarkdale Fruit Farms

photo credit: d.o. 

More than 8 walkers and 100 enthusiastic activists had a great day Friday, July 11, opposing the Kinder Morgan pipeline at the Clarkdale Fruit Farm.

Looking out at manicured orchards and fields, you could see a line of bright orange balloons marking the line of the intended pipeline through this three-generation old pristine farm in Deerfield.

Clarkdale Fruit Farm has posted a sign telling us, that if the pipeline runs through the farm, it will be the end of 600 of their bountiful fruit trees (I heard people talking about Clarkdale peaches being the best peaches anywhere).

There was a wonderful spirit among the crowd, with uplifting music, homemade free ice cream from the Wagon Wheel Restaurant and a heartening talk by State Representative Steven Kulick, D-Worthington, who encouraged us to work tirelessly to stop the unneeded pipeline and its potential ravaging environmental consequences  e through the state. He said we had much support in the legislature but needed to get the executive branch on board.

Families with young children, bicyclists, and many seniors participated. People bought lawn signs and signed petitions. I felt that everyone was energized through the wonderful hospitality provided by the Clarkdale Fruit Farm family and profound dedication not to allow a destructive pipeline to get a single toe into Massachusetts.

The walk will continue through Massachusetts, rolling from town to town from day to day, and end at the statehouse July 30when we hope a large crowd will gather at let the executive branch know we need its clear opposition to the Kinder Morgan Tennessee pipeline so that not a Massachusetts landowner experiences Kinder Morgan's survey of a single plot of land.

by Hattie Nestel

Lots of activities planned for tomorrow (Sunday July 13th)!

Deerfield- Meet at 8:45 under the railroad trestle on River Road, just after Rt 5&10.
Montague- Meet at 10:00 am on Greenfield Rd (in Montague) where the bike path crosses in time to get to the bike bridge. OR hop in a canoe or kayak to be under the bridge by 10:00 am. Nearest put-in (just upstream of the bike bridge) is at the end of Poplar st. in Montague
Erving- meet at 2:00 pm on the Millers Falls bridge (Rte 63) for a 3 mile walk to Northfield.

Picnic at 4:00 pm at Riverview Picnic and Recreation Area in Northfield. Hamburgers, etc. provided. Thinking of hungry walkers? Bring a potluck dish to share! 

The Rolling March has begun!

The Rolling March to Stop the Pipeline is all about building enthusiasm, awareness, and making a statement so loud that it will carry us to Boston on July 30th. Along we way, we're carrying a pipe that holds a petition with over 10,000 signatures calling for Massachusetts legislators to ban new "fracked gas" pipelines and to champion sustainable energy. We're looking to add signatures and stir up conversation along the way. We're hoping that the media will follow our efforts, and stir up conversation at a higher level.

Enjoying the vistas in Richmond while carrying the pipe "baton

Sunday, July 6th, was a beautiful day to kick off the March in Richmond. Hilltop Orchards hosted "Fossil Fuel Independence Day," where a crowd of about 150 gathered to talk, listen to rousing speakers, and to walk. There were people from as far east as Pepperell, MA and as far west as Canaan, NY. Someone from Kinder Morgan came, but he stayed quiet and opted not to walk with us. As we walked, many people honked and gave us the "thumbs up" in support. 

Marchers set off from Hilltop Orchard

Richmond is in a little different situation from most of the rest of Massachusetts, as there is an existing easement that already has 3 pipelines--this would add a fourth. We passed the existing easement several times, a wide swath cut through the trees in the hills, with orange-capped markers highlighting the location of each of the three pipes. The fourth pipe would be added beside the others, requiring an additional 25 feet to be permanently cleared.

Marchers pass the existing pipeline easement

Yesterday (July 7th), a crowd of about 40 gathered in Pittsfield for a "stand-in" rally against the pipeline. There, the baton was passed from Melanie Masdea of Richmond to Cheryl Rose of Dalton. 

Photo by Rose Wessel

The Pittsfield/ Dalton stretch was completed by bicycle. Cyclists with "Stop the Pipeline" messages on their helmets rode from Pittsfield to Alpine Solar to pass the baton to Windsor.

This morning, Tuesday July 8th, a group of walkers walked across Windsor from Alpine Solar down Route 9 to the West Cummington Parish House. More walkers joined in a few miles later. Many cars honked and gave us the "thumbs up" sign. One guy raised his hands asking "what pipeline?" but didn't stop to hear an answer--hopefully he remembers us and reads a newspaper or hears someone talking. Another car did stop, and had plenty of questions about the pipeline, surveying, FERC, etc. This walk can be a chance to educate.

Some of the Windsor Marchers gather in front of Alpine Solar

Tomorrow, Wednesday July 9th, walkers from Cummington will gather at the West Cummington Parish House at 8:00 am (coffee served!); depart at 8:30, walking to Earthdance (all are welcome to continue on through Plainfield or return to the Parish House to disperse). 

A Plainfield contingent will pick up the baton at Earthdance around 9:30 and walkers will congretate at the Plainfield Town Hall for a 10:00 am walk about 5 miles to the Ashfield line.  

Find frequently updated schedules of the march through all towns at www.nofrackedgasinmass.org/rolling-march or on the Facebook event: Rolling March to Stop the Pipeline.

Contribution by Julia Blyth

Someone suggested that we build a Rolling March-specific email list (perhaps through Mailchimp). We can make buttons to join the list on Facebook and your two websites, and then we'd send out daily updates--- a few pictures from events that just happened, and details of the next few days' marches.
I'm for it (and will deal with it until it make sense for someone in the east to take it on) what do you think? Is it just one more thing to sign up for, or will it be useful?

Also, I'm nearly ready to post the march as one big facebook event on Stop TGP Northeast Expansion! I'll keep updating as we get feedback, but the west is pretty well filled out.

Also, I suppose we should come up with a hashtag... suggestions? I guess short is good.
#StopPipelineMarch
#RollingMarchToStopTGP
#MarchToBoston
#MarchAgainstThePipeline
#PipelineRelay



I like Pipeline Relay, but how about #WalkAwayfromGas? Other ideas?


Thanks Julia, Katy and Rose for all your work, and to everyone else who's working so hard!

Pat

Who’s Greater Good?

Throughout the Commonwealth Special Town Meetings are being held to vote on a non-binding resolution. So far 20 towns have held these meetings, and so far all 20 have passed. Why such overwhelming support for a non-binding document? Because it is a large, unified statement to Kinder Morgan and Tennessee Gas Pipeline that THEY ARE NOT WANTED HERE.

There is some hope that the pipeline may move out our area, to an area south of us. While for some that may be the solution to their problem, in my way of thinking “why spend the money, take the risk, and contribute to the climate change situation for something we don’t need?

This is THE TIME to start acknowledging that if we are going to save our planet, our civilization and for some, their money, by shifting away from convenient, fossil fuel. Natural gas may not be a carbon source of concern, but it is a part of the carbon process. Where do you find natural gas? In areas where oil and coal are found. When they tap a new oil field, they’ve been releasing natural gas into the air with abandon. When they explore coal mines, they worry about “gas pockets.” Do you believe that is “unnatural gas?”

Recently Pepperell voted unanimously to keep the pipeline out of their towns. Groton also voted nearly animously. There were 423 people in Pepperell who stayed in the heat with broken air conditioners to be heard. At least 250 people showed up in Groton. The little town of Dalton also stood up to KM/TPG to say “NO.” These towns don’t have the ability to vote for the state, but they have stated that in their towns that there is no “Greater Good,” by continuing this damaging, potentially dangerous project.
Kinder Morgan has decided to go to the Federal level to get permission to begin their project before they appeal to the Commonwealth. Why? Because already, with very little media coverage, more than 5% of the towns have already stated their opposition. If the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is doing its job it’s SUPPOSED to pay heed to the wishes of landowners who have denied access, to cities and towns that have passed such referendum, and to the amount of opposition that has been voiced against this project. FERC is already under heavy scrutiny for its actions on the southern line, known as the Constitution line, and Kinder Morgan/TPG have been cited with starting their preparations for pipeline expansion without proper authorization.

So who’s Good is this project serving? Not mine. Is it yours? Please attend events in your area, such as Climate Summer’s cyclists coming along the pipeline route. Sign petitions, referendum requests and put up signs voicing your opposition. If you are still unsure, then learn more about the effects of this pipeline. Visit http://www.Massplan.org or http://www.NoFrackedGasinMass.org . Reach out to your state and federal elected officials. It is in your best interest to protect your planet, your neighborhood and your health by stopping this pipeline and progress to alternative, renewable energy. It may not be KM’s great good, but does Kinder Morgan (Fresh out of Enron) really need more “good,” than you do?

You decide and then act!