Worlds apart on gas pipeline: Eversource assures it is needed, while protesters call it expensive and unsafe

This article first appeared on Masslive.com on August 7th, 2025. I attended a community meeting hosted by Eversource, which discusses a proposed secondary pipeline that, if constructed, would run through residential neighborhoods in both Longmeadow and Springfield. Springfield is an Environmental Justice Community, and suffers from one of the highest asthma rates in the country. My chief concerns include the potential safety risks residents may face, how Eversource will fund this project, existing leaking gas pipe infrastructure within Springfield, and whether the project is needed.

“For five to 10 years they have been saying it will be efficient and safe as possible,” said Juan Latorre, a Springfield resident and City Council candidate. “I hope they are serious about it. I don’t want residents who are struggling to breathe continue to suffer.”

As an engineer, Latorre said he understands the need for redundancy but believes the community benefit more if Eversource instead invested money to repair the many leaks in gas pipes in the city and focused on efficiency and clean energy.

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SPRINGFIELD — People questioned the need, safety, environmental price and cost of installing a redundant natural gas line in Springfield and Longmeadow while Eversource officials assured them it was necessary, highly-regulated and the cost to ratepayers would be negligible.

Eversource held its first public hearing on its controversial proposal to build a 5.3-mile 16-inch diameter gas line in Longmeadow and Springfield in 18 months on Thursday. At least 80 people attended in person and more listened and asked questions online.

The event, held at the University of Massachusetts Henry Thomas Center in Tower Square, was preceded by a protest organized by the Springfield Justice Coalition complete with a skit featuring “Mr. Eversource,” A money-grubbing character who flubbed answers to questions. The demonstration in Stearns Square drew about 30 people, many of them from Hampshire County.

“For five to 10 years they have been saying it will be efficient and safe as possible,” said Juan Latorre, a Springfield resident and City Council candidate. “I hope they are serious about it. I don’t want residents who are struggling to breathe continue to suffer.”

As an engineer, Latorre said he understands the need for redundancy but believes the community benefit more if Eversource instead invested money to repair the many leaks in gas pipes in the city and focused on efficiency and clean energy.

During the meeting, many people cited concerns that Springfield continues to have one of the highest asthma rates nationwide and the pipeline is partly going through an environmental justice community marked by high poverty and health concerns.

The project is designed to create a redundant pipe for some 53,000 homes and businesses which are vulnerable to losing gas service for months if the sole 70-year-old pipe fails. The area covers about 200,000 people and services parts of Springfield, Longmeadow, Agawam, West Springfield, Southwick, East Longmeadow and Chicopee, said Ryan Barnes, project manager.

The new 5.3-mile pipe would connect to the Tennessee Gas line in Longmeadow where a new six-building Point of Delivery station is to be built next to Longmeadow Country Club and run through Springfield. The proposal also calls for upgrades to be made to the Bliss Street Regulator Station where it would end, he said.

Inflation, cost of materials and contractor costs have increased the cost of the project from the $65 million estimated three years ago to $85 million now, Barnes said.

“This is not an expansion project. It is solely to strengthen our existing system and to make sure our customers have gas service if there was anything to happen,” Barnes said.

Many residents questioned how much their already-skyrocketing bills are going to increase to help pay for the system. Longmeadow Select Board Member Josh Levine questioned what other costs Longmeadow and Springfield would have to bear during construction and monitoring.

Barnes assured ratepayers it would increase bills by about 1%, or $1.25 a month for the average customers, adding the Department of Public Utilities regulates the fees the company can charge.

He said he did not believe there would be new charges to the two communities since all construction costs would be borne by the company, which is also regulated by federal law to have a variety of monitoring systems in place.

Charlie Holmes, founder born free outreach services experienced a gas explosion in 2012. Holmes is part of the group protesting the proposed pipeline. August 7, 2025. (Douglas Hook / The Republican)Douglas Hook

The project was first proposed by Columbia Gas in 2017 and was much larger with a redundant line also running through Agawam, West Springfield and ending in Holyoke. Later the proposal was changed and Eversource took over the gas service.

The project has proven unpopular in both communities. Three years ago the Springfield City Council overwhelming voted to oppose the plan, following a similar stand the Longmeadow Select Board had taken.

To build the pipeline, Eversource will have to receive permits from two separate state agencies as well as approvals from local Department of Public Works boards and others, Barnes said.

In 2023, the state’s Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs ruled Eversource’s environmental impact draft report was lacking and called for the company to do more research and community outreach.

After the Thursday demonstration, Jacqueline Velez, of Springfield, said she started fighting the pipeline years ago and continues in part because she was encouraged with the win that eliminated the pipe that ran through Agawam, West Springfield and Holyoke.

“I moved from New York 10 years ago. I came for clean air and green space,” she said. Later in Springfield, her daughter was diagnosed with asthma.

Velez said she will continue to protest the pipeline but said she is also considering selling her home and moving out of state.

Charlie Holmes, a lifelong city resident, aired safety concerns. He reminded people the 2012 explosion on Worthington Street that injured multiple people, including several firefighters, and destroyed three buildings was from a low-pressured line. This one will be a high-pressured line.

“There are leaking pipes everywhere. I smell gas all other the city,” he said. “We are the city of firsts. We should be the first to change over to solar and wind.”