NEW HAMPSHIRE RESIDENTS SAY: NO NEW FRACKED GAS
Concerned Residents Oppose Ayotte’s support to resurrect the dead Constitution pipeline project
CONCORD, NH - The revival of the Constitution pipeline project with support from Governor Kelly Ayotte alarms New Hampshire residents. Widespread public opposition shut down both the Granite Bridge pipeline and the Kinder Morgan pipeline, and this proposal will not be any different.
NH Resident Susan Richman said “It is sad that NH decision-makers continue to support spending good NH money on out-of-state fuels, when our state now boasts its own energy sources -- such as plentiful solar. We can keep our energy money in NH. So why do our lawmakers and governor continue to support sending energy money out of state?”
Activists in New York defeated the Constitution pipeline in 2020 and are gearing up to fight the proposal again. The project was cancelled once and will continue to face opposition because the pipeline company has not been able to prove that their project is necessary or will bring prices down. The cost of fracked gas has been volatile and expensive, especially compared to recent solar and wind prices.
“We in New York State stand with New Hampshire in our efforts to move from filthy, planet-killing fracked gas to the renewable energy that is our future. No pipeline expansions anywhere!” said Sara Gronim from 350 Brooklyn.
Governor Kelly Ayotte met with Lee Zeldin, the new administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and representatives from Eversource on Monday. Ayotte told WMUR that “this [project] is very different because this would come into our existing pipeline, as opposed to building a whole new pipeline.” While it is true that New Hampshire wouldn’t be building a new pipeline, there are still strong environmental impacts on everyday people, including those in New York where the construction would take place. Ayotte’s promise to bring prices down does not align with support for fracked gas - one of the most expensive fuels right now.
“Governor Ayotte doesn’t care that Granite Staters are struggling to pay skyrocketing utility bills,” said Lila Kohrman-Glaser, former director of 350NH who helped stop the Granite Bridge pipeline in 202. “She should focus on solutions at home, not expensive pipe dreams in NY that have no real chance of ever being built. We reduce costs for people by investing in clean, local energy.”
The people of New Hampshire argue that investing more in fracked gas is unnecessary when we have affordable, clean, local options. NH Resident Em Friedrichs shared, “Most of NH can't access natural gas for heat because we don’t have the infrastructure. Building the infrastructure costs a lot of money and it'd be like building a coal-burning train engine--why on earth would you invest big bucks in old technology?”
The air quality, water quality, and health concerns of the Constitution pipeline project will be felt by Granite Staters and by New Yorkers. This pipeline project adds to the list of current negative health impacts from fossil fuels and climate disasters. New Hampshire’s poor air quality over the past few weeks comes from the ongoing wildfires as Canada experiences one of their worst wildfire seasons on record. Increasing greenhouse gasses, including methane burned from fracked gas use, will make climate disasters worse and more frequent.
Heather Johnstone, NH Resident, said “The proposed pipeline moves us backwards as a nation when it comes to the climate and our health. Let's not support corporations and politicians blocking the move towards clean energy from solar and wind!”
350 New Hampshire and other environmental activists in the region banded together to stop the Kinder Morgan pipeline and subsequently the Granite Bridge pipeline. Many other pipelines have been proposed across New England, each met with stiff resistance. New Englanders are prepared to step up again to prevent any new fossil fuel expansion from harming our communities.
###