Eversource Gas Company of Massachusetts is seeking approval for construction and operation of a new Point of Delivery (POD) at the Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, L.L.C. (TGP) meter station to be constructed in the Town of Longmeadow, in conjunction with a new natural gas pipeline from the POD to the Bliss Street Regulator Station in the City of Springfield.
Amid extensive pushback from community and environmental groups, this project has been stalled for about two years. Their draft environmental impact statement filed with the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) office was turned back by the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) with requests for further information.
After a two year pause, Eversource needed to reach back out to the public to remain in compliance and keep the project proposal alive. After their disastrous outreach and conduct of previous public comment events, they were much more pro-active in the summer of 2025, getting notice out to stakeholders, holding the meeting after usual work hours, providing food and interpretation services. However, their spin on the project remained just as problematic as ever. Opposition groups held a rally and march beforehand and then filled the meeting room, asking tough questions and waving red flags when inaccurate statements were made.
NEWS COVERAGE:
» Eversource hosts forum, hears from people against pipeline
» Western Mass residents protest proposed natural gas pipeline
» Worlds apart on gas pipeline
Massachusetts Energy Faciltites Siting Board Docket Number:
EFSB22-05, Filed 5/26/2022, public comments/hearing complete
Description:
Proposal to install, update and operate between a new point-of delivery (POD) station in Longmeadow and the Bliss Street Regulator Station in Springfield.
– $65 million cost
– Installation of above group POD equipment at TGP meter station
– TGP meter station in Longmeadow
– 5.3 miles of new 16-inch pipeline with normal operating pressure of ~200 lb/sq inch gauge (psig) in Longmeadow and Springfield
– Upgrades at existing Bliss Street Regulator station to connect Project to existing distribution system
Resources:
Project Fact sheet
Open house presentation
– Recording 1
– Recording 2
News:
- Activists call on Healey to oppose WMass Natural Gas Reliability Project (Feb 2, 2023)
- Natural gas project including pipeline between SPringfield, longmeadow up for public comment (Dec 2022)
- Activists set to attend hearing for Eversource pipeline (Dec 2022)
- Springfield City Council presents resolution against Eversource pipeline project (Aug 2022)
- Residents rail against proposed gas pipeline in Springfield at SESB meeting (Dec 2022)
- State DPU Notice of Adjudication and PUblic Comment Hearing on Eversource (Nov 2022)
- Climate groups protest against new Eversource high pressure entering station (Oct 2022)
- Why Sen. Lesser and advocacy groups don’t want the Eversource backup pipeline (June 2022)
- Springfield Climate Justice Coalition holds rally against proposed Eversource pipeline (April 2022)
- Eversource Reliability Project undergoes legislative and public review (Dec 2021)
- Eversource discusses multi-million dollar gas pipeline with Springfield officials as $44 million owed to city looms (Oct 2021)
- Boston globe article (Oct 2021)