In December 2014 the Massachusetts-based utility Berkshire Gas Company announced the amount of natural gas they could purchase from the Tennessee Gas Pipeline (TGP) was at full capacity. There’s no additional gas supplies to buy–unless TGP builds their Northeast Energy Direct (NED) expansion project. So Berkshire was forced to tell new customers for natural gas in portions of Franklin County they won’t be able to tap into Berkshire’s line (see Guts: No New Pipeline in MA? Then No New Natgas for Utility Customers). In January 2016, Berkshire had to expand the prohibition area, turning down new businesses in neighboring Hampshire County (see Shortages Begin: Tangible Result of No Pipelines in New England). In April came the devastating news that TGP was canceling the NED pipeline project (see NED is Dead – Kinder Morgan Suspends $3.3B New England Pipeline). What can Berkshire Gas do? Where can they turn now? Is there ANY hope that new residences and businesses in Franklin and Hampshire counties can hook up to natural gas? Berkshire is having to deal with the crappy hand dealt them. They are trying to find a way to get more gas supplies for their customers. They have a plan to build a short, 19-mile pipeline to deliver new supplies. Predictably, the idiots living in the affected areas are resisting the plan…
