Guest columnists Nisha Swinton and Karina Wilkinson: Say no to dirty gas expansion projects

By NISHA SWINTON and KARINA WILKINSON

Published: 06-07-2023 7:47 PM

Early this year, Gov. Maura Healey called the climate crisis the “greatest challenge” facing Massachusetts, and said that “we have no time to delay.” We agree. There’s one big thing that the governor can do right now: issue an executive order that halts new fracked gas expansion projects while the state creates a plan for a clean, green energy future.

Such a move — backed by groups across the state — would put a stop to the unnecessary, expensive projects that keep us hooked on fossil fuel pollution. And it would keep Massachusetts on pace with what’s happening in New York, where lawmakers and grassroots activists are doing more than merely talking about addressing the climate crisis.

Two years ago, the New York City Council passed a law that bans gas hookups in most new construction projects under seven stories. That was followed by a more dramatic move this month: Gov. Kathy Hochul passed a state budget that includes a ban on gas hookups in new construction. Shifting buildings away from dirty fuels will help limit climate pollution and yield savings for residents stuck paying outrageous utility bills due to fossil fuel company profiteering.

With a governor who is fully committed to tackling the climate crisis, Massachusetts can pursue similarly bold policies. That’s why groups across the state are pushing Healy to sign an executive order that would stop new pipelines like the Springfield-Longmeadow Western Mass Reliability Project, as well as expansions of existing pipelines such as the Worcester Feed Line Improvement in Westborough and Southborough.

The companies that propose these new pipelines and compressor stations have a simple reason for doing so: They stick us with the bill, and it keeps us all dependent on their product. Community groups and environmentalists have fought to stop new gas projects because they understand that there is no way to meet our climate targets without stopping the fossil fuel projects that are causing the problem in the first place.

There are already encouraging signs that Massachusetts is moving in the right direction. Last month, Boston passed an ordinance that changed the city’s building codes to shift away from fossil fuels in preparation for an all-electric future. And last year’s state climate law created a pilot program where 10 cities and towns will prohibit fossil fuels in new construction.

The logic here is simple: As we move toward electrification across our economy, we need to introduce policies that require this shift to happen, and we need to put a stop to fossil fuel projects that are expensive and unnecessary.

This is about more than just reducing emissions that are driving a global climate emergency. Gas-fired stoves and other appliances create serious health hazards in our homes — specifically air pollution in the form of nitrogen dioxide and benzene. And this dependence on gas is expensive, too —  advocates in New York were able to show that electrification will save households hundreds of dollars a year. Volatile gas prices are one more reason to move away from fossil fuels.

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As soon as she took office, Healy announced new positions in her administration to deal with climate issues, and has embraced some important goals, such as expanding access to heat pumps across the state. These are good starting points. But to make the progress she says she wants to see in Massachusetts, Healy must take a stand against the growth of dirty fossil fuels.

Nisha Swinton is a senior organizer at the advocacy group Food & Water Watch. Karina Wilkinson is the Food & Water Watch local coordinator in Massachusetts.

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