New Bedford fire chief said he was not told about Acushnet LNG expansion
The Fire Department has been a part of the emergency response for Eversource’s LNG plant in Acushnet since its inception in 1971, but Fire Chief Michael Gomes said no one has contacted him about plans to expand the capacity by 10 times.
Gomes said he has more questions than answers about the major expansion.
“I don’t know what will be there. I only know it will be 10 times the capacity,” he said. “I have a lot of questions, especially if they want me to respond to it.”
“Why does it need to be 10 times the size? Is it going to be a distribution center?,” Gomes asked, explaining that currently it is only for Eversource’s circulation area, which includes Cape Cod.
However, Gomes said he is not upset about not being informed, saying it is early in the process and the NBFD and Eversource’s emergency personnel enjoy “a very good working relationship.”
Eversource Energy is planning to construct two massive natural gas storage tanks in Acushnet off Peckham Road, a half-mile from New Bedford’s Far North End.
Company officials said the project is two to three years away from breaking ground and the project would include a new, 3-mile pipeline from the Acushnet facility through Freetown that would connect with the extensive Algonquin gas transmission line.
Michael Durand, an Eversource spokesman, said they are in the “very early stages of public outreach,” meeting with Acushnet and Freetown officials and New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell as well as abutters to lay out their plans for the project.
Elizabeth Treadup Pio, a spokeswoman for Mayor Mitchell, said he needs more information before he can support the project.
The two new tanks will generate between $10 million to $12.5 million in annual property tax revenues for Acushnet, but nothing for New Bedford.
Gomes said he believes NBFD should receive additional compensation from Eversource. “Given the increased threat, the risk and the increased potential for New Bedford’s participation, we’ll take what we can get.”
The NBFD trains at least once, and sometimes as many as four times a year at Eversource’s facility, which consists primarily of familiarizing personnel with existing firefighting and safety systems. The training also includes recognizing the hazards when trucks cross New Bedford streets to fill the plant’s tanks.
Durand, in response, said he cannot say if Eversource would provide compensation to NBFD, but expects to meet with Gomes to explain the plans.
“We will, of course, work with all our stakeholders going forward, particularly our local communities, to address any issue or concern they have,” he said. “We are again very early in the process so it is too soon to say what we will or will not be able to do.”
Durand said plans call for the new tanks to be connected to the regional gas pipeline system so the gas going in and out of the new facility will travel through underground pipelines as opposed to trucks.
“We don’t expect truck traffic to that facility to increase,” he said. “In fact, we think it will decrease.”
https://www.southcoasttoday.com/article/20150731/NEWS/150739866
