Do we need a 250-mile natural gas pipeline?

Do we need a 250-mile natural gas pipeline?

By Peter S. Cohan WALL & MAIN

While the debate on Kinder Morgan's proposed 250-mile natural gas pipeline will continue to rage on, I keep scratching my head trying to understand exactly why it is a good idea in the first place.

To be sure, there is a ready answer from the utility industry — the pipeline is needed to move enough natural gas into the region on really cold days. But is that the real reason?

Before getting into whether the pipeline is needed, let's look at the current state of play in the debate over where to locate the pipeline. As the Telegram & Gazette reported, Allen Fore, vice president for public affairs for Kinder Morgan, is expected to make an announcement Dec. 8 about the new proposed route and file it with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

A new map shows the pipeline heading north into southern New Hampshire, paralleling the earlier proposed route through northern Central Massachusetts towns that were up in arms about the previous proposal, then reconnecting with the existing pipeline near Dracut.

As the T&G reported, "Under the alternative route, the pipeline would still go through Western Massachusetts communities but would not pass through areas of Orange, Athol, Royalston, Winchendon, Ashburnham, Ashby or Townsend. The original proposed route showed the pipeline going through those towns, though it didn't show specifically where it would be in those towns."

It is unclear whether the New Hampshire towns will be more accepting of this pipeline than Massachusetts has been.

More Disturbing News...while you were protesting Ferguson, Ohio, and Eric Garner...

Reckless Congress 'Declares War' on Russia
By Ron Paul
Ron Paul Institute
December 6, 2014
Today the US House passed what I consider to be one of the worst pieces of legislation ever. H. Res. 758 was billed as a resolution “strongly condemning the actions of the Russian Federation, under President Vladimir Putin, which has carried out a policy of aggression against neighboring countries aimed at political and economic domination.”

In fact, the bill was 16 pages of war propaganda that should have made even neocons blush, if they were capable of such a thing.

These are the kinds of resolutions I have always watched closely in Congress, as what are billed as “harmless” statements of opinion often lead to sanctions and war. I remember in 1998 arguing strongly against the Iraq Liberation Act because, as I said at the time, I knew it would lead to war. I did not oppose the Act because I was an admirer of Saddam Hussein – just as now I am not an admirer of Putin or any foreign political leader – but rather because I knew then that another war against Iraq would not solve the problems and would probably make things worse. We all know what happened next.

That is why I can hardly believe they are getting away with it again, and this time with even higher stakes: provoking a war with Russia that could result in total destruction!

RIP Bob Sans

Robert M Sans

BALDWINVILLE – Robert M. Sans, 67, of 731 Baldwinville Road, died peacefully Wednesday afternoon, December 3rd at UMASS Medical Center, University Campus, Worcester with his family at his side.

He was born in Gardner on June 5, 1947, son of Joseph and Helen (Courtney) Sans and had lived in Baldwinville for many years.  Bob grew up in Gardner and graduated from Gardner High School in 1965 and Mount Wachusett Community College in 1967.  He later graduated from Fitchburg State College in 1973.

Bob was a kindergarten teacher at Baldwinville Elementary School for 30 years and then taught 5th grade at Narragansett Middle School for 8 years until his retirement.  Active in both military organizations and town affairs, Bob was a member and past commander of Ovila Case #905 VFW in Gardner and was a member of Roger Warfield Post American Legion in Baldwinville.  Bob was a 30 year member of Templeton Fire Department and was an emergency medical technician for 35 years and past director of Templeton Rescue Squad.  He was a CPR instructor and first aid instructor and had been a director of Emergency Management for the Town of Templeton for 20 years.  For nine years, Bob had served as a cemetery commissioner and he was a constable for the town for many years.  In earlier years, Bob was active with the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.  A member of Otter River Sportsmans Club for many years, Bob was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Church and a former CCD instructor.  He enjoyed hunting and fishing, his trucks and dogs and was known as a good cook.