Pipeline protesters shut down City Council subcommittee meeting (VIDEO)
By Rick Sobey, rsobey@lowellsun.com
Updated:
05/16/2018 04:31:45 PM EDT
LOWELL -- Protesters took over the City Council chamber Tuesday evening -- shutting down a subcommittee meeting and yelling at National Grid officials to "leave and never come back."
Police were called from next door as the protesters sat in the center of the chamber, hung up signs on TVs that read "No Platform For Fossil Fuels," and shouted from the balcony.
"Shut this pipeline down," protesters chanted.
National Grid officials were expected to give a presentation on the Lowell Area Gas Modernization Project, but never had an opportunity.
The rambunctious protesters caused the City Council Environment & Flood Issues Subcommittee to adjourn, and National Grid officials quickly left City Hall.
The protesters yelled at the representatives from National Grid: "Don't come back ever." They gave a raucous round of applause when National Grid officials departed.
"We did what we wanted to do," said Marisa Shea, a protester who was sitting on the chamber floor with a sign reading, "Water is Life Protectors."
There's an existing gas main right-of-way traversing Lowell, Chelmsford and Tewksbury.
The $30 million National Grid project would begin at the Tewksbury Take Station off Chapman Road and continue into Lowell to the Wilbur Street gas regulation station and the Doane Street station.
The project involves replacing the Wilbur line with a new larger diameter pipeline.
5 miles of the existing 6-inch and 8-inch diameter pipeline would be replaced with a new 12-inch steel pipeline.
A prepared National Grid presentation stated this will "enhance the
overall safety and reliability of the existing gas distribution network
in the Lowell area through the use of new inspection technology."
They will be using "state-of-the-art inspection devices."
Construction is expected to begin in spring 2019 and finish in fall 2020.
The City Council subcommittee members were visibly upset when the protesters took over the floor.
Chair Karen Cirillo hit the gavel several times, but that did not stop the protesters. The subcommittee members left the floor.
"We are here to ensure the fossil fuel industry cannot spread their propaganda anymore," the protesters chanted. "Mother Earth is dying."
Cirillo said the protest was unexpected. She called it "inappropriate" and "disruptive."
"Everything I do is in the interest of the residents," Cirillo said. "It was very important to me to have National Grid speak about their project, so the residents can understand it."
"It was just a big waste of time," added City Councilor Edward Kennedy.
Follow Rick Sobey on Twitter @rsobeyLSun.
They will be using "state-of-the-art inspection devices."
Construction is expected to begin in spring 2019 and finish in fall 2020.
The City Council subcommittee members were visibly upset when the protesters took over the floor.
Chair Karen Cirillo hit the gavel several times, but that did not stop the protesters. The subcommittee members left the floor.
"We are here to ensure the fossil fuel industry cannot spread their propaganda anymore," the protesters chanted. "Mother Earth is dying."
Cirillo said the protest was unexpected. She called it "inappropriate" and "disruptive."
"Everything I do is in the interest of the residents," Cirillo said. "It was very important to me to have National Grid speak about their project, so the residents can understand it."
"It was just a big waste of time," added City Councilor Edward Kennedy.
Follow Rick Sobey on Twitter @rsobeyLSun.
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