» COLUMBIA GAS NEWS » COLUMBIA GAS EXPLOSIONS
» COLUMBIA GAS HOME
» DOCKET FILINGS – (FERC Docket #CP19-7; MEPA Docket #EEA 15879)
Includes filed comments of BEAT/No Fracked Gas in Mass and others.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
Tennessee Gas (TGP, a subsidiary of Kinder Morgan), as part of the Columbia Gas Reliability Plan, is proposing a project labeled “261 Upgrade”, named for Compressor Station #261 in Agawam. This proposal was intended to “provide reliability” to Holyoke and Columbia Gas (CMA) systems and to allow for new gas customers for Columbia Gas (CMA). It consists of several components – primarily the “Looping Project” and “Horsepower (HP) Replacement Project”. There is also a proposed new Meter Station planned for Longmeadow. TGP has repeatedly argued that this is not a part of the same project, but the state has demanded that they add it to the Environmental Impact Report, and we keep insisting that leaving it out is segmentation.
UPDATES:
• As of March 25, the project has received its Certificate and Notice to Proceed, and TGP filed its notice of commencement of construction, which is now underway.
However, both customers for this project are out of consideration. Holyoke Gas & Electric withdrew when Mayor Alex Morse stated in April 2019 they would not expand gas service, citing climate considerations. Then in late February, Columbia Gas was banned from continuing to do business in the state as part of the settlement in the case of the Merrimack Valley disaster. Though Eversource will purchase Columbia Gas’ Massachusetts systems to keep up service, it is not clear that they intend to follow through with Columbia Gas’ Reliability Project, expanding service in the Pioneer Valley as they are in the Worcester area (with pipeline system expansions in Westborough and Ashland).
FURTHER PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
– The Looping Project included 2.1 miles of 12-inch-diameter loop to be installed on Tennessee’s existing 10″ 261B-100 pipeline. The majority of the loop would have been located within Tennessee’s existing pipeline corridors and will replace an existing inactive 6-inch-diameter pipeline where feasible. This would have been included a new pigging launcher at the compressor station site and a new receiver at the end of the loop approx. 2 miles to the north.
– The HP Replacement Project involves removing two existing older units (a Solar Saturn installed in 1965 and a Solar Centaur installed in 1991) and installing a new Solar Taurus 70 unit. This would result in an overall increase of 4,418 horsepower to the station, and an increase of up to 7.8 decibels in noise level to nearby dwellings. There doesn’t appear to be data provided on the difference in emissions between the compressor engines being removed and the one being installed. This design will provide higher pressure into the 10-inch 261B-100 pipeline, and will increase the operational reliability to serve Holyoke Gas & Electric customer.
Old Compressor Engines being removed:
1991-vintage Solar Centaur H
1965-vintage Solar Saturn T-1001
New Compressor Engine being installed:
Solar Taurus 70-10802S
Net increase in horsepower: 4,418 HP
Increase in noise levels:
— Longmeadow Metering & Regulation (M&R) Station. Also tied to this project is a new Metering and Regulation (M&R) station along the TGP 200 line in Longmeadow. TGP has tried to claim that this is separate, but in the interest of not allowing segmentation, the MEPA process has required them to consider this project along with the 261 Upgrades when addressing their work with Columbia Gas and Holyoke Gas & Electric. TGP’s filing with FERC, filed AFTER Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Matt Beaton’s insistence on inclusion of this M&R station for state permitting purposes, still insists that this station is a separate project, even though it serves the same end use project for the same customer – Columbia Gas’ Reliability Project.
MAP OF LOOPING PROJECT – Compiled from EENF
(click on map to download high res PDF)
PAST HEARINGS / CURRENT COMMENT PERIODS:
The Siting Board and MEPA also seek written comments concerning the proposed 261 Upgrade Projects and the Longmeadow Meter Station.
COMMENT DEADLINES:
– MEPA – March 29, 2019
MEPA comments should be sent to Alex Strysky via email at alexander.strysky@mass.gov or by U.S. mail to: Alex Strysky, MEPA Office, 100 Cambridge Street, 9th Floor, Boston, MA 02114. The comments should be sent to the MEPA Office by Friday March 29, 2019. If you have any questions, please contact Alex Strysky at the email or physical address above
– EFSB – April 10, 2019
Comments for the Siting Board should be sent by email to both Stephen.August@mass.gov and dpu.efiling@mass.gov or by U.S. mail to: Energy Facilities Siting Board, One South Station, Boston, Massachusetts 02110, Attention: Stephen August, Presiding Officer. The comments should be sent to the Siting Board by Wednesday April 10, 2019. The Siting Board will use the comments it receives, whether oral or written, in drafting a comment letter on the 261 Upgrade Projects to submit to FERC. If you have any questions, please contact Stephen August at the email or physical address above.
– FERC Comments on Environmental Assessment – June 17, 2019
NEWS
» Agawam residents speak out over gas pipeline project
By Ryan Trowbridge and Audrey Russo, Western Mass News
January 21, 2020
» Longmeadow voters say no to gas pipeline project in residential neighborhood
By Chris Goudreau, Valley Advocate
August 21, 2019
» Longmeadow votes to ban construction of gas facility in residential zone
By Katrina Kincade, WWLP
August 20, 2019
» Longmeadow approves zoning change to block natural gas infrastructure
By Elise Linscott, MassLive
August 20, 2019
» Equitable transition to renewable energy can create millions of jobs (Letter to the Editor)
By Letters to the Editor | The Republican and MassLive
July 16, 2019
» Massachusetts mayor says access to cheap gas not worth the cost to climate
By Sarah Shemkus, Energy News
July 8, 2019
» Longmeadow Town Meeting voters approve restrictions on natural gas facilities
By Elise Linscott, MassLive
May 14, 2019
» Longmeadow residents to vote on regulations for proposed gas pipeline construction project
By WWLP.com 22 News
May 13, 2019
» Longmeadow residents to vote on proposed Tennessee Gas pipeline on May 14
By Don Shipman, WWLP
May 07, 2019
» Holyoke, Mass., Mayor Alex Morse Opposes Gas Expansion In City
By Adam Frenier, NEPR
April 23, 2019
» Earth Day Statement from Mayor Alex Morse
By Holyoke Mayor A. Morse, Holyoke.org
April 22, 2019
» Citizens speak out during Tennessee Gas Pipeline hearing
By Carling Willis, The Reminder
April 2, 2019
» State sets Longmeadow public hearing on Tennessee Gas Pipeline expansion in Hampden County
By Mary C. Serreze, MassLive
March 20, 2019
» Moratorium on natural gas a blessing in disguise (Letters)
By Lilly Lombard, Northampton, MassLive
February 26, 2019
» Anti-pipeline group questions HG&E moratorium decision
By GRETA JOCHEM, Daily Hampshire Gazette
February 26, 2019
» Holyoke Gas & Electric imposes moratorium on new natural gas service
By GRETA JOCHEM, Daily Hampshire Gazette
February 20, 2019
» Legislators, groups concerned about pipeline project planned for Agawam
By Richie Davis, Springfield Recorder
January 11, 2019
» Massachusetts attorney general seeks deeper review of need for natural gas projects in constrained area
By Maya Weber and Grant Gunter, S&P Global Platts
January 7, 2019
» Agawam farm family protests Tennessee Gas Pipeline land-taking
By Mary C. Serreze, MassLive
December 11, 2018
» Residents at forum decry Longmeadow Country Club deal with Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co.
By Mary C. Serreze, MassLive
November 29, 2018
» City of Northampton opposes natural gas pipeline project in Agawam
By Mary C. Serreze, MassLive
November 26, 2018
» Tennessee Gas Pipeline plans meter station at Longmeadow Country Club, documents confirm
By Mary C. Serreze, MassLive
November 16, 2018
» Climate activists get involved in Agawam pipeline debate
By Mary C. Serreze, MassLive
November 9, 2018
» Tennessee Gas delineates wetlands for Agawam pipeline project
By Mary C. Serreze, MassLive/Springfield Republican
October 25, 2018
» Tennessee Gas seeks federal OK for Agawam pipeline, compressor
By Mary C. Serreze, MassLive / Springfield Republican
October 25, 2018
(Short links for this page are: http://bit.ly/TGP261 or tinyurl.com/TGP261)