Update: N.H. AG raises concerns over pipeline

Kinder Morgan's proposed NED project has been the subject of demonstrations in Western Massachusetts. (Mary Serreze photo)

CONCORD, N.H. - New Hampshire Attorney General Joseph Foster announced on Friday that his office has filed a motion to intervene in a mammoth natural gas pipeline project that would connect areas of production in Pennsylvania with potential customers in New York, Massachusetts and northern New England.

The specific petition his office is filing against is captioned "Tennessee Gas Pipeline, LLC," which is pending before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

In addition to the Attorney General, several other state agencies are also seeking intervention in the FERC proceedings, including the Governor's Office of Energy and Planning, the Public Utilities Commission, the Department of Environmental Services, the Fish & Game Department, the Department of Resources and Economic Development, the Site Evaluation Committee, and the Department of Transportation.

Tennessee Gas Pipeline, LLC is seeking a certificate of public necessity and convenience to construct and operate a natural gas pipeline and related facilities, known as the Northeast Energy Direct project. The proposed route of the pipeline would cross approximately 70 miles in southern New Hampshire.

Blue line denotes existing pipeline (not Kinder Morgan) from Dracut, Mass., hub in this map on Kinder Martin website.

"This project could potentially have significant impacts on the State and its citizens, including the hundreds of property owners whose lands will be affected. I will be participating in the FERC process to protect the State of New Hampshire and its citizens through the proper enforcement of New Hampshire's consumer protection, antitrust, and environmental laws, as well as applicable federal laws," Foster said in a statement.

Intervention, if granted, will give the Office of the Attorney General full party status in the FERC proceedings, which will enable the Office to closely monitor the project, participate in the review process and raise issues important to New Hampshire citizens.

Maps available on the website of Kinder Morgan, the parent company of Tennessee Gas Pipeline LLC, do not specify what New Hampshire towns might be affected, however, the pipeline jogs north into New Hampshire than back south into Dracut, Mass. TGP pipes than head north northeast and connect with other suppliers that carry natural gas into York County in southern Maine and northern New Hampshire.

Specifically, the 420-mile proposed pipeline goes from the supply area of Northern Pennsylvania to Wright, N.Y., then east to Dracut.

If FERC approves the project, properties along the way would be subject to eminent domain, said Deputy N.H. Attorney General Ann Rice on Friday.

Kinder Morgan is touting the project as a win-win for northern New Englanders, who they say will see an immediate drop in energy and electricity costs once the project is completed as well as thousands of construction jobs to install the pipeline.

However, the state of New Hampshire, as well as dozens of towns in Massachusetts have filed complaints fearing harm to wetlands, other natural resources and quality of life.

A representative from Kinder Morgan did not return a phone call on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, in Western Mass., a large crowd turned out for an anti-pipeline rally on Monday.

Actress Susan Sarandon has added her voice to the opposition saying there's no guarantee prices will go down.

Some speculate the end goal for Kinder Morgan is to get the natural gas to Canada to sell on the open market rather than direct it toward energy-deprived northern New Englanders.