Opponents of Kinder Morgan’s natural gas pipeline expansion into Western Massachusetts have sent a formal complaint to Governor Charlie Baker. The activists are claiming negligence.
Nearly 100 people have been arrested on trespassing and other non-violent charges during months of protests against the natural gas pipeline expansion in Otis State Forest.
The 13-mile, $93 million project upgrades an existing system in New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut.
The Sugar Shack Alliance claims Republican Governor Charlie Baker, regulating agencies, state police, and courts “worked to protect corporate interests at the expense of the safety, health, environment, civil rights, and future well-being” of residents.
The governor’s office told WAMC in a statement:
“Massachusetts leads the nation in energy efficiency and efforts to combat climate change, and is fully devoted to a clean energy future that reduces Massachusetts’ greenhouse gas emission, encourages the innovation of our growing clean energy technology sector, and meets the region’s energy demands without raising costs for consumers,” Katie Gronendyke, EEA spokesperson, says. “Through the implementation of bipartisan, comprehensive energy legislation first proposed, then signed by Governor Baker, the Administration is committed to diversifying Massachusetts’ energy portfolio and encouraging the development of renewable energy resources.”
