The Pittsfield City Council has voiced its opposition to a proposed 400-mile natural gas pipeline, joining nearly 40 other communities along the route of Kinder Morgan’s multi-billion dollar concept. The pipeline would run from Pennsylvania to Massachusetts.Following requests from the Berkshire Environmental Action Team, the Pittsfield City Council voted 8 to 1 Wednesday to oppose the pipeline proposal through a non-binding resolution. Citing high energy costs, Mayor Dan Bianchi supports the project.
“And if we don’t do something about it, I think you’re going to see businesses leaving this area and doing business in other parts of the country,” Bianchi said Tuesday.
Councilor Churchill Cotton said he wasn’t convinced any environmental harm outweighs an additional source of gas.
Environmental activists have called on Mayor Bianchi to pull back his support because he reviews contracts Global Montello, a firm that does business with Kinder Morgan. Bianchi says he sees no conflict of interest.
