HARTFORD, Conn. — Environmental activists gathered outside the Connecticut State Capitol Tuesday to stop the expansion of a natural gas pipeline.
They are protesting what’s called “Project Maple,” an effort to upgrade an 1,100-mile pipeline system that runs through New England, including here in Connecticut.
The expansion proposal is in its early stages and still needs approval from the federal government.
Environmentalists are already sounding the alarm that the plan is bad for the region.
“Expanding methane infrastructure even more than we've already been doing in Connecticut nonstop for over the last 10 to 20 years is making it impossible for us to meet our statutory greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets,” Martha Klein, with the Sierra Club, said.
About three dozen people rallied against the pipeline transportation company Enbridge, Inc. and its goal of adding compressor stations and gas lines along the Algonquin gas transmission system.
“In other words, they will be able to carry and transport more methane and then sell more methane to their customers who are like Eversource and national grid and those are their kind of customers," Klein said.
Those against the proposed expansion plan said it would not only harm the environment but also public health.
Kerry Swift lives in Brookfield, where two pipelines already run through the town.
“We just had a health impact study that was done about our compressor stations and they spew toxic chemicals, including like small particulate matter that 2.5 which is the cause of asthma in our children, so we're very concerned about the health of our children and our neighborhoods and also safety,” Swift said.
The Sierra Club and other environmental organizations delivered a letter to Gov. Ned Lamont’s office, calling on him to block permits that would allow this project and others that are pending to forge ahead.
“We want to send the message to Gov. Lamont,” Klein said. “None of those permits should be approved from this point going for no more fracked gas expansion.”
In response, Lamont’s office said:
“Our administration is aware of discussions regarding early-stage efforts exploring additional natural gas pipeline infrastructure that would potentially service Connecticut customers and transport gas through the state, however there have been no applications submitted to the state to execute this project, therefore it would be premature at this point to evaluate it,” wrote David Bednarz, Lamont’s Senior Press Secretary. “Lamont appreciates the grassroots advocacy of the Sierra Club and he values their input on this topic.”
In response to Tuesday’s rally, Enbridge provided the following statement:
“Project Maple is a potential future project, and an application for project maple has not been filed with FER,” Melissa Sherburne, Enbridge Spokesperson, said. “We have ongoing discussions with possible project customers, such as natural gas utilities, to better define what this potential project could involve.”
Bridgette Bjorlo is an anchor/reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at bbjorlo@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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