To the editor:
Do you want to pay for all future gas pipelines in New Hampshire? Is NED dead, or just sleeping; waiting for New Hampshire’s PUC to pass unprecedented legislation making electric ratepayers pay for gas pipelines? Is NED dead because of 18 towns, 35 conservation commissions, thousands against the destruction? No, it’s all about money.
To Kinder Morgan, 6 percent profit ($18 million) on the $3.1 billion project is not enough. KM shouted need from the rooftops from day one. Yet not enough contracts to make it pay! Their “untruth” caused 18 towns to spend hundreds of thousands; thousands of citizens to spend countless hours protecting their homes. Why didn’t the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, whose job it is, prove need before all this waste?
In New Hampshire, the 80 miles of NED – 10 percent through conservation land – had one customer, Liberty Utilities, with 90,000 customers, making each 5 feet of pipe serve one customer at $22,000.00 each over 20 years. You might still get to pay! NED, only ever gas for heating or export, never had even one grid customer to make electricity from gas. But Concord drank the Koolaide.
Our PUC said OK, and even recommended passing costs to electric customers.
We, the small people giving up so much could see there would be no cheaper electricity. Why couldn’t Concord? Who is protecting New Hampshire?
On April 22, KM told the FERC to “suspend” work on NED until May 26, when they will “update status.” May is when towns would identify vernal pools and wetlands for compensation. Ms. Kuster and Ayotte asked FERC to deny, in fairness. FERC answered they will wait until May 26 and possibly resume.
Don’t let New Hampshire favor energy giants and make electric ratepayers pay for gas pipelines, or NED and many more pipelines will be back!
Maria Szmauz
New Ipswich, affected landowner