Massachusetts Petroleum Council criticizes energy bill amendment
The Massachusetts Petroleum Council has expressed concerns regarding the impact of a new amendment to the energy bill recently adopted by the Senate that prohibits the Department of Public Utilities from approving private pipeline financing.
“Blocking additional natural gas supplies to the region can only hurt consumers,” Massachusetts Petroleum Council Executive Director Steve Dodge said. “The Senate bill allows special interest groups to determine what’s best for Massachusetts ratepayers. We need to give Massachusetts consumers and manufacturers a break, not potentially pile on additional costs and waste opportunities to lower utility bills.”
The Petroleum Council’s primary concern is that opportunities to bring in additional supplies of natural gas will be lost at a time when a considerable majority of residents already feel “somewhat concerned” or “very concerned” about the affordability of energy in the region, according to a May survey.
“Natural gas is providing reliable and affordable power to residential, commercial and industrial customers throughout New England,” Dodge said. “The region’s natural gas-fired power resources are among the newest, most efficient and lowest-emitting plants in the country. In fact, the United States — now the number one producer of natural gas and oil — has become the global leader in reduced carbon and other emissions, which are near 20-year lows. But without new pipeline infrastructure, New England consumers and businesses will be at a disadvantage – hurting our economy and making it hard to keep good paying jobs in our region.”
