During the extended period of cold weather, the hypocrisy of our state attorney general's position on natural gas pipeline capacity is especially highlighted. Maura Healey doesn't seem to understand electricity production, or more likely is just trying to push a failing green energy agenda at the cost of artificially high gas and electric rates. Normally, natural gas produces over half the electricity used in New England. During this recent cold spell it was 25 percent. And how are we making up the difference? Not with solar, it's contribution in best of times is tiny and in winter even less. And wind is about the same as always providing less than 5 percent. It's hard to believe but oil is being used to produce the other 25 percent of electricity that natural gas usually provides. Oil, much more expensive and polluting than the gas it's replacing.
The reason for this is during the cold days of winter, home heating has priority. Although there's plenty of cheap natural gas just 200 miles away, we don't have enough pipeline capacity to get it here. As reported in the Sunday Telegram (Business Matters) last weekend, New England had The HIGHEST COST FOR NATURAL GAS IN THE WORLD during this cold spell. Our state’s refusal to support new natural gas pipeline capacity creates artificially high electric rates and higher costs for natural gas when most needed to heat our homes.
High energy prices affect rich and poor alike, and much more so for the poor.
David Maidrand
Shrewsbury