On February 1, 2019, National Grid filed a petition with the New York Public Service Commission for a “Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need” (i.e. permission to build and operate) for a tiny 16-inch, 7.3-mile natural gas transmission pipeline. The purpose of the new pipeline is to beef up supplies of natural gas in the Capitol region of the state–around Albany. Opposition by radical green supporters continues to mount, with those opposing calling it a “fracked gas pipeline.”
A public hearing was held a few weeks ago in East Greenbush, NY and of course a group of antis who hate fossil fuels showed up (see National Grid Faces Opposition to Tiny Pipeline in Albany Region).
The project is called the Pipeline E37 Reliability and Resiliency Project and would be built mostly in National Grid’s existing right-of-way. National Grid wants to begin building it later this year and says it will take three years to complete (which seems like a long time to us to complete such a tiny project).
The E37 Project would close the Albany Loop, an existing National Grid horseshoe shaped transmission line that travels from Troy to Bethlehem. The pipeline would be built in Albany and Rensselaer counties. National Grid says the E37 pipeline is necessary to enhance the reliability of the company’s Eastern NY service territory by allowing for diverse sources of natural gas to enter the distribution system.
A group funded by Big Green calling itself Stop NY Fracked Gas Pipeline is trying to nuke the project. The radicals are demanding the New York Public Service Commission admit them as a “party” to the PSC’s review process, and demanding the PSC hold a formal evidentiary hearing for the project, something only large projects get–as a way of slowing down approval:
A group opposed to new natural gas infrastructure in the state is pushing for party status in the case of a 7.3-mile National Grid distribution pipeline proposed for the Albany area. The Stop NY Fracked Gas Pipeline group also wants the Public Service Commission to hold formal evidentiary hearing — usually reserved for more extensive proceedings and rate cases — on the pipeline. The utility hasn’t provided enough evidence to justify the need for the pipeline, wrote Bob Cohen, an attorney with Citizen Action of New York representing the group. The vehement local opposition to this proposed pipeline and questions about the necessity highlight challenges for natural gas utilities and regulators in maintaining reliability while accommodating local concerns about new pipelines and the climate impacts of more gas supply. National Grid has said the project is needed to ensure no service interruptions in the area, but the Stop NY Fracked Gas Pipeline argues more evidence is needed to support that claim. The utility has opposed the group’s request for party status.*
*POLITICO (May 2, 2019) – Another Pipeline Fight
We searched for and found the materials submitted by the antis to the PSC, which may or may not put you to sleep.
First, a letter from the Big Green-funded lawyer helping the group, from the far-left group Citizen Action New York:
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Second, the objection to National Grid’s objection that these troublemakers actually be allowed to participate in the PSC review process:
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Finally, the ramblings of Rebecca J. Meier, co-founder of the wacky Stop NY Fracked Gas Pipeline group:
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