Massachusetts high court deals severe blow to PA, OH, and WV landowners regarding pipelines

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, in a ruling just handed down, has supported environmentalists at the expense of gas companies attempting to reach MA markets with our natural gas.

We're screwed

To the extent this might influence similar proceedings and decisions elsewhere, we are even more messed up.

For participants here who believe politics is somehow separate from natural gas discussion, this should be enough to shut you up.  Our opponents in this matter used AGW as one basis of their argument - and they won!  AGW, of course, does not even exist in reality . . only in their rich, liberal, imaginations.

That said, regardless my opinion of it, if AGW can be established as real it can be used to hammer the crap out of us landowners . . to crucify us.  And that is exactly what they did.

As despicable as they are, you have to respect smart people at least at some level.  Our opponents here, able to stop drilling so far only in New York, are instead attacking our ability to reach critical markets with natural gas they never wanted developed in the first place and/or do not want to be developed in future.  That is a smart strategy.

Wednesday’s decision came in response to an appeal of a state Department of Public Utilities decision by the Conservation Law Foundation and Engie Gas & LNG, which imports fuel that would compete with the pipeline.

“This is an incredibly important and timely decision,” said David Ismay, CLF’s lead attorney on the case. “Today our highest court affirmed Massachusetts’ commitment to an open energy future by rejecting the Baker Administration’s attempt to subsidize the dying fossil fuel industry."

Well, if we are dying it is in no small measure thanks to their relentless attacks on us.

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Permalink Reply by Frank Walker on August 18, 2016 at 3:13am

I'm posting separately here to highlight something in the OP which does not stand out.  I made the OP all about the environmentalists and about AGW and so forth, and I'm not backing down.  There is no question they are a thorn in our side.

But please note carefully, the successful litigants included an outfit called Engie Gas & LNG.  That is NOT an environmental group!  Be aware that Engie Gas & LNG is a French company intent on importing NG from Trinidad to Massachusetts through their terminal in Everett, MA, which is just north of Boston.

Our other competition

You might ask yourself why American environmentalists would align with a French company in order to impede and oppose their own fellow Americans, specifically us!!  The environmentalists know that either way natural gas is being burned.  Right?  So why throw in with the French instead of supporting their own country? . . . . . . . if in their hearts America really is their own country!

Such as this offers an additional slant on the outcry, "America First!"

Permalink Reply by Jim Litwinowicz on August 18, 2016 at 3:41am

They sided with the French firm because imported LNG is much higher cost to the end user and would make solar and wind unable to compete. Dig deep enough and you will see that these groups are invested, financially and emotionally, to solar and wind so deeply that they cannot logically look at alternatives. They will say and do anything to push solar and wind on all of us.

Permalink Reply by Frank Walker on August 18, 2016 at 3:49am

Thank you, Jim.  I did not think of that but I find your analysis to be spot on.  I should have thought of it.

It's very difficult, at least it is for me, to scope out all the angles on stuff like this.  Yet such things as this, considered as an ensemble, impact us landowners very strongly.  I really appreciate your help and insight.  

0ym9x5ag7ury2Permalink Reply by 0ym9x5ag7ury2 on August 18, 2016 at 4:35am

Relax Frank,

     The Citizens of Mass will be voting for Trump since they know the price of heating their homes will be higher than necessary due to Hillary's Obama style of taking away energy sources.

Rulings can be overturned by the Public when they are cold and broke from being politically correct.

0ym9x5ag7ury2Permalink Reply by 0ym9x5ag7ury2 on August 18, 2016 at 4:47am

One more thing,

    Notice on the map of the US that there is a very large land mass west of Massachusetts that can be used to go around that state and take gas to markets on up the coast and all through NY.

Eventually the island of Massachusetts will ask for a natural gas life line to save their economy.

Here is the eia website, take a look, Massachusetts can be bypassed by extending existing pipelines to the North East.

The lawyers are running a 100 yard dash, while we land owners are running a Marathon.

http://www.eia.gov/pub/oil_gas/natural_gas/analysis_publications/ng... 

Permalink Reply by Coffeeguyzz on August 18, 2016 at 4:06pm
Mr. Walker, Mr. Hale, Mr. L

This recent decision by the Mass Supreme Court SHOULD prove to be one of the biggest gifts to the Appalachian Basin supporters of all time.

Here's why ...

When KMI abruptly pulled their NED pipeline last April, I - and apparently many others - were surprised. The precariousness of New England's electric supply in cold weather is not only well recognized, it is about to get exponentially worse, especially as Spectra's Access pipeline is now in doubt.

I strongly recommend to you folks to "bone up" on New England's power supply/natgas pipeline opposition saga so you can knowledgeably use the preposterous situation to your own benefit.

Masslive.com is an excellent source to chronicle this long running debacle.


Factoids like New Hampshire currently 100% supplied with electric via nuclear power, yet being asked to have HUMONGOUS transmission lines cut across their forests to bring in Canadian hydro-sourced power to the Massholes.
The Mass legislature just ordered over 9 gigawatts of electric sourced from Danish-designed offshore wind (HUGE expense).
Towns such as New Canaan burying propane tanks to beat their schools and offices for decades to come.

My favorite, local politicians clamoring for LNG infrastructure to be built so that Trinidadian-sourced LNG (arriving at Engie's terminal) can heat their homes.

These people are ferociously embracing their 'Inner Thereaus" and are on track to turn the area into one gigantic Walden Pond.

You folks MUST become informed of this incredible folly and use it to educate your neighbors of just how damaging the acolytes of Ra and Zephyr truly are.
Permalink Reply by Frank Walker on August 19, 2016 at 12:00am

Coffeeguyzz

Very much appreciate the post.  Certainly I agree that Massholes are just that.  Massachusetts is one of the most liberal states, perhaps second only to Hawaii.  As such, one anticipates ridiculous outcomes.  Consider what is happening in Germany, another liberal haven, regarding energy.

Bottom line, though, I'm far from certain the majority of Bay Staters ever will be reached.  I don't expect sanity to return to Massachusetts during my lifetime.  The entire state is lost, yes, even the Berkshires.  Their situation, in my view, is hopeless.

Permalink Reply by Frank Walker on August 19, 2016 at 12:12am

I want to take advantage of the great post by Coffeeguyzz to wander off the topic of this thread somewhat:

He made me think about something important.  Coffeeguyzz mentioned the importation of electric power, and the transmission towers needed to make that possible.  Those towers are very tall, very intrusive, and they destroy the ambiance of any region, especially of rural regions, through which they pass.

Now consider the environmentalists other wet dream, the building of 400 foot tall towers for their damnable wind turbines.  It's the same story:  ugly, intrusive, ambiance destroyed.

It strikes me our environmentalist opponents have a theme going:  energy through ugliness.

The majority of natural gas infrastructure, OTOH, is beneath the ground or low to the ground.  Up close it is not ugly.  And you cannot even see much of our infrastructure from a distance!!!

Bottom line, it's fair to inquire whether our opponents are environmentalists . . . . . . . . . . or merely jackasses!! 

Permalink Reply by joseph keller on August 24, 2016 at 6:44am

Last week a ride on Rt 84 to Martha's Vineyard. A ride on new ferry in Woods Hole to the island. then another ride at Edgartown to Chappy, Rt. 84 and rt. 17 a large NG plant waiting for turbines The same in Pa. waiting for turbines? Back to the ferry ride I parked behind a LPG truck headed to the Vineyard? only 3 small wind turbines to be seen Mass. a state of NIMBY,s the ride back on the ferry 2 full trailers of trash. I live in Pa Bucks co. with land in NE. Pa shale. I say no to Mass. and let them buy candles. Joe man.

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