Comment on the proposed gas Kinder Morgan Pipeline

By Walt Cudnohufsky 8.13.14

Gas is neither a bridge fuel nor a cleaner fuel! It contributes at least equally, with other dirty

fuels, to our accelerating climate problem. Substantial methane, freed by gas drilling and

transport, has recently been calculated as sixty eight times more impactful and longer lasting

than co2. Clean and green is thus a myth!

By allowing the proposed Tennessee (Kinder Morgan) gas pipeline, even if against our will,

we are enabling destructive fracking and more pollution that any life time of conscious living

could ever mitigate. By voting no, this proposed pipeline gives us an opportunity, possibly the

single largest in our lives, to make a discernable difference on climate change and reducing

environmental impact.

It is my widely shared opinion that FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) is little more

than a rubber stamp for the oil and gas industry and our all too corrupt government. FERC will

almost assuredly find a “public need/necessity” where none exists.

It is critical to notice, even if you are now just learning of this pipeline proposal, that it is not

early in the planning process! On the contrary it is very late and near the end of that process.

As a land planner with some experience with transmission routing and road alignment, I have

come to know the four major stages of planning and design for such networks.

(1) Corridors several corridors would normally be reviewed--each multiple miles wide. Then

(2) Routes which can be up to one or two miles wide and within a selected corridor.

(3)Alignment the more specific path within the route and finally

(4) Design the technical specification for construction.

Kinder Morgan are assuredly in the fourth and final design stage for this pipeline, no matter

what they pontificate.

Sophisticated environmental data for the first three stages is readily accessible to the

corporations without going on the land. The important thing to note is there is only minimal

flexibility in their plans at this late fourth stage and with a favorably inclined FERC (they

know already of their favored odds of achieving approval) what we say and think is severely

discounted if ever it had value.

I submit that the cumulative effect of impacts of the pipeline, must be assessed for the entire

pipeline even if in multiple states and tabulated and reviewed cumulatively by state and at the

federal level.

The impact studies must also include any lateral distribution pipes (mentioned in their

presentations) which could rival the proposed direct pipe line in aggregated length and

impact. The laterals are likely to be equally impactful and damaging because of certainty to

be in populated areas. If Kinder Morgan claims there are no laterals planned or designed,

it is assured that the huge proposed volume of gas is destined to be shipped off shore. The

container ships and LNG stations are on order, being planned and constructed as we ponder

this pipeline.

The environmental impacts of fracking in addition to the pipeline itself (PA, NY, elsewhere)

must also be a simultaneous part of an environmental and cultural impact assessments.

Incremental review of any part of this fracking-pipeline system is severely deficient. There

are ample town, state and federal regulations that support and require this cumulative and

aggregated environmental review.

There is currently encouraging momentum in the mounting resistance across the affected

Towns in Massachusetts. By use and electricity rate increases, everyone in the State is involved

not just the directly affected communities.

My conclusion: If ever you were to speak up and take action, now is that time! Support your

neighbors and fellow citizens and all the Massachusetts and New York communities certain to

be harshly impacted. See http://www.nofrackedgasinmass.org/

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.

Change in the Pipeline

I look around and see corporate sponsorships everywhere I look. The Xfinity Center in MA. A local farmer’s market now carries the corporate logo of their sponsor. The news is full of corporations getting this new opportunity for marketing, and that new promotional deal. I’m kind of tired of it myself.
To me farmer’s markets are about the local community, the work done by individuals, not by groups with tons of money. Americans have been taught that it is the power of corporations that make things happen, and that they can’t be fought. Here in MA we’re trying to stop a major energy company from destroying our landscape, our water supply, our home values, and our air quality. Many people, including those in the state have said “This is a done deal. Just let it go through.” I can’t believe that. I can’t believe that a company in Texas will reap the wealth of the energy prices, while we in rural Massachusetts and New York, suffer as those in Pennsylvania, Ohio, the Midwest, and the South have done. Not because we’re special, but because we have the benefit of learning from their efforts. Our nation has given over its control of our resources to the highest bidder, leaving us to deal with the after effects.
We know the after effects now; polluted waters, diminished property values, higher energy bills, higher mortgage and insurance rates, and the loss of access to land that homeowners pay taxes, but cannot use for production. Some of the owners may have large checks in their hands, but they will have to use that money to pay for trucked in water, replacement livestock, and the chances they can resell the land is minimal.
We, as individuals, as citizens, have to speak up for ourselves. We need to work together to be heard. We need to work as a community, as a region, to make things possible for our residents. As someone who grew up outside of Detroit I have seen personally how loyal corporations are to their home towns. GM was really loyal when it moved out of Flint, Pontiac, Detroit. Chrysler was really loyal when it moved overseas. They were followed by the High Tech Industry in the 1980’s as Wang, Texas Instruments, Digital all expanded west, until their bottom fell out, leaving in its wake thousands of employees with no way to move to follow the jobs.
But if we protect our communities, our neighbors, our land, with the energy of the people who love and live there, we can change things. That is why NCSC is sponsoring ¢hange Day on July 5, 2014. This the beginning of a National Movement to bring back citizen involvement, self-reliance, community connections. If we can provide energy locally, through solar, wind and hydro, we don’t need to rely on “Big Gas/Oil” to bring it to us. We don’t need corporations to help us survive. We need each other. Start a ¢hange Day event in our area. We’re having a Puppet Parade, and collecting coins to go toward our Sustainability Hub. What’s the need in your area? Have a ¢hange Day to collect funds to fight the Pipeline, or Fracking, or Hunger, or plain Listlessness. Support the National Movement with a $10 or $25 license to use the 2014 Logo. We’ll put your event on our website, and your neighbors can support ¢hange In your area. We’ll be helping each other Change things for the better.