Massachusetts AG to Keep Lights Out?

A study by Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey (Dem) concludes the state doesn’t need a new natural gas pipeline to keep the lights on, reports the Boston Herald:

Healey is advocating the “de-industrialization of Massachusetts,” said David Tuerck, executive director of the Beacon Hill Institute.

“She wants to exacerbate the existing problem where electric rates are higher than any other state already,” said Tuerck. “She must be caught up in the climate change madness — climate change has become a kind of religion and she is caught up in it.”

Healey’s study, conducted by the Analysis Group Inc., found that spending more on energy efficiency would ensure the electric grid’s reliability while saving ratepayers about  $150 million a year and reducing greenhouse gas emissions — while building a pipeline would save closer to $60 million a year without any climate change benefits.

“This study demonstrates that we do not need increased gas capacity to meet electric reliability needs,” Healey said in a statement, “and that electric ratepayers shouldn’t foot the bill for additional pipelines.”

But the Baker administration has revised rules to allow electric companies to invest in natural gas pipelines and the governor has repeatedly backed expanding access to natural gas — as well as hydropower and solar energy — to cut electricity costs.

Healey filed the study with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in its review of Kinder Morgan’s plans to build a gas pipeline across parts of Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

Kinder Morgan called the study “flawed,” saying in a statement, “Its recommendations will do nothing to lower unnecessarily high electricity costs for ratepayers or provide long-term solutions to the region’s chronic energy problems and environmental challenges.”

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E.J. Smith is the Founder of YourSurvivalGuy.com, Managing Director at Richard C. Young & Co., Ltd., a Managing Editor of Richardcyoung.com, and Editor-in-Chief of Youngresearch.com. E.J. graduated from Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts, with a B.S. in finance and investments. In 1995, E.J. began his investment career at Fidelity Investments in Boston before joining Richard C. Young & Co., Ltd. in 1998. E.J. has trained at Sig Sauer Academy in Epping, NH, where he completed course-work in Practical and Defensive Handgun, Conceal Carry Pistol, Shotguns, Precision Scope Rifle and Kidnapping Prevention. E.J. plays a Yamaha Recording Custom drum set with Zilldjian cymbals. His first drum set was a 5-piece Slingerland with Zilldjians. He grew-up worshiping Neil Peart of the band Rush, and loves the song Tom Sawyer—the name of his family’s boat, a Grady-White Canyon 306. He grew up in Mattapoisett, MA, an idyllic small town on the water near Cape Cod. He spends time in Newport, RI and Bartlett, NH—both as far away from Wall Street as one could mentally get. The Newport office is on a quiet, tree lined street not far from the harbor and the log cabin in Bartlett, NH, the “Live Free or Die” state, sits on the edge of the White Mountain National Forest. He enjoys spending time in Key West and Paris. Please get in touch with E.J. at ejsmith@youngresearch.com. Sign up here to receive all the best content from Richardcyoung.com each week.