BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey presented the Federal Regulatory Commission with a letter asking for a full review of the region's electricity reliability needs and natural gas demand before approving the proposed Kinder Morgan pipeline.
The letter urges the FERC -- an independent agency that reviews all proposals to build natural gas pipelines -- to evaluate the needs in New England through 2030 before approving the pipeline.
The recommended study would evaluate cost effective energy and efficiency resources, and how they need to adapt to meet future demand.
“This proposed pipeline will have a significant impact on local residents and the energy future of Massachusetts,” Healey said. “We need more information about whether this pipeline is necessary before moving forward.
"My office is urging FERC to move cautiously on this, and we intend to play an active role in this proceeding moving forward.”
Healey’s letter states that evaluating future demand is important before long-term decisions about gas capacity investments are made.
The Department of Public Utilities already has denied a request from the Attorney General’s Office asking to delay approval of precedent agreements with gas utility companies purchasing gas capacity on the pipeline until the study was completed.