New Land Not So Free after all!

         

It appears the land deal with the state may not be so great after all. There may be a problem with communication or it may have been just another nod and a wink deal. Seems there was a crew trying to do test borings on the land "given" to the town were kicked off the land by some state officials. After a go 'round with Senator Brewer and the governor, they may have gotten access to the land again. Now the state wants to be reimbursed for the loss of agriculture and hunting rights to that land. at the last meeting of TESBC, seems like a price of $10,000.00 per acre is now required. The town may also have to obtain some more land for entrance and a wide enough in and out lane (s). There of course may be some wetlands issues. I believe the next meeting will be on July 23, 2014 and I hope everyone looks for the meeting posting and attends.

The town building in East Templeton is looking pretty nice inside thanks to a lot of town folks who came to help. Thank you very much to all.

Jeff Bennett



Pipeline Information

Pipeline Information

NO FRACKED GAS IN MASS 

Our Current Mission:   

To stop the Kinder Morgan/TGP Northeast Energy Direct project (a high-pressure gas pipeline planned by Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co., a subsidiary of Kinder Morgan, to run from Richmond in Berkshire County through to Dracut, north of Boston.)

Our Broader Mission:   

To stop the expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure in Massachusetts and to promote expanded efficiency and sustainable, renewable sources of energy and local, permanent jobs in a clean energy economy.

Why The Pipeline is the Wrong Direction for Massachusetts:
The proposed pipeline path runs through hundreds of private properties and through some of the state’s most sensitive eco-systems and would be paid for through new tariffs on our electric bills.

Pipeline foes unite to oppose project

Pipeline foes unite to oppose project

Pat Worth stands with her dog in a pasture on her Greenfyre Farm in Royalston as her horses graze near the path of a proposed pipeline. (T&G Staff/Rick Cinclair)

By George Barnes TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
gbarnes@telegram.com

When Winchendon Town Manager James M. Kreidler was contacted in the spring about having town property surveyed for a natural gas pipeline, he said no.

"I did not and will not execute the document," he said. "Instead, I made them a counteroffer."

Mr. Kreidler told representatives of Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co. he would prefer the pipeline run through already disturbed property, former rail lines and utility rights of way, which would reduce going through wetlands, conservation land and private property.

"No one's land would be taken," he said.

So far, the alternative has not been accepted and the town's permission has not been granted.

Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co., a subsidiary of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, has proposed running a natural gas pipeline from New York through Northern Massachusetts to Dracut. Among the communities it could pass through are Orange, Royalston, Winchendon, Ashby, Lunenburg and Townsend, with possible spurs into New Hampshire and to communities such as Fitchburg, depending on companies it contracts with.

Since the pipeline was announced in January, opposition has been growing, even as the exact route remains unclear.