Legislators Speak Out Against Kinder Morgan’s Proposed Northeast Direct Gas Pipeline Project

Media Advisory

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date:  July 25, 2014

LEGISLATORS SPEAK OUT AGAINST KINDER MORGAN’S PROPOSED NORTHEAST DIRECT GAS PIPELINE PROJECT

"As legislators representing communities to be impacted by the proposed Tennessee Gas/Kinder Morgan Northeast Direct gas pipeline, we want to make our opposition to the project clear. We oppose the project for environmental, economic, public safety and public health reasons. In recent months we have heard a message of overwhelming opposition from our constituents, on those grounds and others. We have performed our due diligence and met with various state agencies, project proponents, environmental organizations, local laborers and our constituents to better understand the project, all issues surrounding it and state government’s role in the process. While it is clear the ultimate power in permitting and approving the project rests with the federal government, in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), it is our responsibility as state legislators to speak for our communities. As such, we have come to the conclusion that while building the Northeast Direct Gas Pipeline would provide the economic benefit of providing good jobs with good wages for local labor, the project as a whole is not in the public interest. We can and should do better."

State Senator Benjamin B. Downing
Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin & Hampden District
Media Contact: (617) 722-1625                                                                  

State Representative Stephen Kulik
1st Franklin District
Media Contact: (617) 722-2380

State Representative Gailanne M. Cariddi
1st Berkshire District
Media Contact: (413) 663-9890                                                                  

State Representative Paul W. Mark
2nd Berkshire District
Media Contact: (413) 464-5635

State Representative Smitty Pignatelli
4th Berkshire District
Media Contact: (413) 281-4803

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