Democratic Gov. Maura Healey pleads for more natural gas, quick. What changed her mind? While campaigning four years ago, Healey boasted that as state Attorney General she had “stopped two gas pipelines from coming into this state.” Now she’s pleading with the Trump Administration to expedite permits for a pipeline expansion. Add Gov. Healey to the list of Democrats mugged by energy reality.
“On several occasions we have discussed our mutual desire to get more U.S. natural gas into New England to reduce reliance on higher-cost imported fuel and lower costs for customers,” she wrote Energy Secretary Chris Wright last week. Her letter beseeches the Administration to move “quickly” on the federal review needed to expand the Algonquin gas pipeline. She says it could save 600,000 utility customers $40 million a year.
She more or less concedes her costly blunder last decade in blocking two proposed pipelines. Several nuclear and coal plants in New England have closed, leaving the region more reliant on natural gas. Last year natural gas made up about half of New England’s power generation; solar and wind together were only 8%. About half of Massachusetts households also rely on gas for heat. During frigid weather, gas plants without adequate supply turn to burning oil.
Massachusetts has the fourth-highest electricity rates in the country. Imported LNG costs about six times more than U.S. natural gas. Ms. Healey understands that soaring energy costs, fueled by anti-fossil-fuel follies, could give even liberal voters cold feet about the state’s unrealistic climate goals.
Source: Wall Street Journal US Business · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing