Tuesday and Thursday DPU Hearings on Future of Gas
Comments due by Friday
This week, at the very last minute, the public finally has an opportunity to testify in the investigation into decarbonizing the gas distribution utilities, i.e. the “Future of Gas” proceeding (DPU20-80). The legislature was upset enough over the outcome of the “Future of Gas” study to include an order that the DPU not approve any of the proposed plans in their recent energy bill. However, this bill has only passed the Senate and is not yet law. By holding these hearings, the DPU is still moving forward with the process.
The information below is a mix of action kits from
Climate Action Now and Gas Leaks Allies:
The Future of Gas Report was written by consultants hired by the public gas utility companies in Massachusetts (Eversource, National Grid, Berkshire Gas, Liberty and Unitil), in response to a request from the Attorney General for the DPU to do a study on how gas companies can meet Massachusetts’ mandatory emissions reductions. Instead of doing that investigation themselves, the DPU handed it over to the gas companies. The DPU is now reviewing the consultants’ report and the companies’ plans and trying to assess the claims and assumptions made.
The final reports are based on flawed assumptions and analysis that do not move the gas companies to clean heat. There is no genuine attempt to meet climate goals.
• The plans keep us hooked on gas. They perpetuate use of the current gas infrastructure and ramp up investments in an unsafe fossil-based system.
• The plans don’t cut methane emissions. The plans claim reductions by using out-of-date estimates and ignoring scientific measurements of methane.
• The plans rely on “renewable” gases, so-called by the gas industry. Hydrogen, biomethane, and synthetic gas are just methane by another name. All of them damage the climate and can increase ratepayer costs by up to 15 times.
• No changes are made to the Gas System Enhancement Plan. The plans continue a $600 million/year investment in gas pipe replacement, totaling $42 billion by 2039.
• Ratepayer values are not addressed. There’s no plan for worker transition, environmental justice, public health, or safety.
The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) will be accepting written public comments on the Future of Gas Report until May 6th and will accept spoken testimony at two public hearings on May 3rd at 7:00 pm and May 5th at 2:00 pm. It is vital that we use these opportunities to make our voices heard. Pre-registration is required.
Information for Providing Comments
If you would like to give spoken testimony in one of the public hearings via Zoom, send an email by Monday, May 2, 2022, to sarah.smegal@mass.gov with your name, email address, mailing address, and hearing date. If you anticipate commenting by telephone, please leave a voicemail message by Monday, May 2, 2022, at 617-305-3653 with your name, telephone number, mailing address, and hearing date.
If you would like to submit a written comment, you must email it in by 5 pm on Friday, May 6, 2022. All comments must be submitted to the Department in .pdf format by email attachment to dpu.efiling@mass.gov and sarah.smegal@mass.gov. The text of the email must specify:
1 The docket number of the proceeding (D.P.U. 20-80)
2 The name of the person or company submitting the filing (ie. your name or organization)
3 A brief descriptive title of the document
Please also CC the Attorney General’s Office and the attorneys of the MA public gas utility companies, whose emails are provided on the CAN Toolkit.
