Questioning the Need for the Proposed

Kinder Morgan Gas Pipeline through Dracut

Prepared by:
Dracut/Tyngsboro Pipeline Awareness Group, 978-710-3618. Version of 6/2/2014.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1469440746622770

1. Kinder Morgan materials sent to the Dracut and Tyngsboro town offices in
January 2014 stated that the expansion of the interstate gas pipeline system
was to meet increased demand in the US Northeast for transportation capacity
for natural gas to be available for the winter heating season in 2018.

2. Presentations by natural gas suppliers on May 1, 2014 at a Natural Gas
Association Regional Market Trends Forum show very slow growth in
expected use of national gas in New England. Growth = 0.6% per year or only
0.146 BCF (billion cubic feet per day) over 5 years according to a slide by
Elizabeth Arangio of National Grid. Slow growth is possible even in a better
economic environment due to weatherization/renewable energy programs in
place in all six New England states.


(available at: http://www.northeastgas.org/pdf/e_arangio_natgrid.pdf )
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3. The Kinder Morgan pipeline proposal would add up to 2.200 BCF (billion
cubic feet per day) of capacity according to company documents (see:
http://www.kindermorgan.com/business/gas_pipelines/east/neupopenseason/). This
is over 15 times the expected rate of growth in gas system demand.

4. On a typical cold winter day, the entire northeast uses only about 3.500 BCF
(billion cubic feet per day) of natural gas, with about 3.000 BCF coming from
pipelines and 0.5BCF coming from LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas), according
to the chart below from the May 1, 2014 presentation of Vince Morissette of
REPSOL, a supplier of LNG:



(available at: http://www.northeastgas.org/pdf/v_morrissette_2014.pdf )

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5. There are four other pipeline projects under development which will serve
New England. The following is taken directly from a slide presented on May
1, 2014 by Elizabeth Karanian of Northeast Utilities (last page, accessed at:
http://www.northeastgas.org/pdf/e_karanian.pdf )

1) Tennessee CT Expansion (0.072 bcf) Est. In-service Nov. 2016
2) Algonquin AIM (0.342 bcf) Est. In-service Nov. 2016
3) Algonquin Atlantic Bridge (up to 0.6 bcf) Proposed Est. In-service Nov. 2017
4) Tennessee Northeast Expansion (up to 2.2 bcf) Proposed Est. In-service Nov. 2017/18
5) Portland C2C Expansion (up to 0.182 bcf) Proposed Est. In-service Nov. 2016

Add the numbers from just the three projects scheduled for 2016:

TGP Connecticut 0.072 bcf
Spectra Algonquin AIM 0.342 bcf
Portland Natural Gas 0.182 bcf
TOTAL 0.596 Billion Cubic Feet



6. Remember: the total expected increase for five years was 0.146 Billion
cubic feet, or 146 Million cubic feet per day.

The pipeline capacity already under development is 0.596 Billion cubic feet
per day, or 596 Million cubic feet per day. This is over THREE TIMES the
increase in demand, and does not include planned increases in winter storage.


7. In the event that the Kinder Morgan pipeline is not built through Northern
MA going through Dracut, our utilities can still use LNG to address winter gas
supply and demand issues on peak days. How? On May 15, 2014 the Mass.
DPU Energy Facilities Siting Board gave National Grid the green light to start
manufacturing LNG in Dorchester instead of importing it. (See:
http://www.env.state.ma.us/DPU_FileRoom/frmDocketSingleSP.aspx?docknum=EFSB+14-1 )
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8. The Kinder Morgan proposal alone would increase regional pipeline
capacity from 3 million BCF to as much as 5.2 million BCF, a 73% jump.
Documents prepared for investors and prospective customers show that this
proposed large increase in regional pipeline is primarily for export. Proposals
to build LNG export terminals in St. John, New Brunswick and Melford and
Goldboro, NS, are well known. (See graphic below, http://goo.gl/pDEFK5, and
https://rbnenergy.com/movin-out-exporting-us-sourced-lng-from-the-maritimes
https://rbnenergy.com/movin-out-exporting-us-sourced-gas-from-the-maritimes-part-2 )
However, many utilities that generate electricity in New England do not want
all of these exports because they will increase the cost of natural gas.




9. New Englands Governors and congressional delegation did NOT
ENDORSED the Kinder Morgan proposal. Governors endorsed an addition of
0.600 BCF of pipeline supply. That could be provided with unused capacity in
the Maritimes Northeast pipeline to Portland and Dracut (0.200 BCF, see
http://goo.gl/kOzRJ1) and through Kinder Morgans 200 Line Looping
proposal on the existing pipeline Right-Of-Way through Agawam, Charlton
and Hopkinton (0.500 BCF to 1.000 BCF, see http://goo.gl/4CQWF6, page 17).

10. New Englands governors have NOT endorsed a scheme to send billions of
cubic feet of gas to a future export terminal in Eastern Canada. Such a plan
would increase gas prices, say industry analysts. (see: http://goo.gl/yRNo9N )



11. Kinder Morgan has proposed to use an electric utility tariff to pay for part
or all of this new pipeline. Under this scheme, a new charge would appear on
all electric bills in New England, regardless of whether customers are using
gas or oil to heat their homes. (see: http://goo.gl/Jv63J6 )

12. The Kinder Morgan pipeline is now opposed by Mass Audubon, the Sierra
Club, and MA Assn. of Conservation Commissions due to its route through at
least 130 parcels of conservation land which is supposed to be protected
indefinitely according to Article 97 of the Massachusetts Constitution. There
are open legal questions as to whether Federal Law could preempt Article 97.
If the Kinder Morgan plan proceeds this will be a major legal fight.

http://www.massaudubon.org/content/download/12153/193164/file/Natural%20Gas%20i
nfrastructure%20policy%20letter%20to%20Gov.pdf

http://www.sierraclubmass.org/issues/gw/kmtpipeline.html

http://maccweb.org/documents/comment_letters/letter%20to%20Gov%20Patrick.pdf