Showing Up DOES Make an Impact!
The Mid-Hudson Sierra Club Group continues to oppose the proposed Iroquois ExC project, which would augment compressor stations In Athens and Dover in New York State and two stations located in Connecticut. The pipeline expansion would double the pressure in the existing old Iroquois pipeline with a goal of delivering more methane to Long Island and Manhattan. The environmental community has been waiting over eighteen months for a decision by the DEC on the granting of air permits for the project and have been pressuring Governor Hochul to deny these permits. The Sierra Club and many other organizations have participated in demonstrations opposing the Iroquois ExC.
This opposition continues! On Feb 22, 2023, your Mid-Hudson Sierra Club group joined with several other environmental organizations to participate in a rally to oppose the Iroquois ExC project. The action was held on the front lawn of the DEC Region 3 headquarters in New Paltz.
ExC intends to ship more methane (doubling the pressure in the line) through an aging pipeline to Long Island and NYC by building out compressor stations in Athens and Dover, NY. The dangers and health burdens to the already disadvantaged communities at Dover and Athens that this project would impose are many, along with all the terrible consequences of deepening the climate crisis due to methane leaks and fossil fuel burning this project would allow.
Moreover, efficiency measures and gas-restriction rules in NYC will likely make this project unnecessary. Over 3,300 comments on the project were delivered to the DEC at the event. Many young people joined in this lively citizens’ action, as well as participants from Food and Water Watch, NY Public Interest Group, Sane Energy, NY Lawyers in the Public Interest, Mothers Out Front, and Concerned Citizens of Dover.
Mary Finneran, another Sierra Club member, was a key organizer and addressed the engaged crowd on the dangers involved and fallacies espoused by the fossil fuel companies' proposal (see article below). Nivo Rovedo was also privileged to speak against the project.
The following images were taken by Sarah Kennedy, a MHSC Executive Committee member who attended along with fellow ExCom members Lalita Malik and Nivo Rovedo.
ExC Iroquois Methane Pipeline - Expansion by Compression
The Iroquois Expansion by Compression Project (ExC), proposed by National Grid (and Con Ed), seeks to pump more fracked gas into NYC. When another proposed pipeline, the Williams Pipeline, was defeated, gas companies threatened to be forced to turn heat off to the metropolitan area from a lack of delivery capability. Governor Cuomo demanded that utility companies find alternative ways to provide heat to new customers; this was the alternate proposal -- push more gas through an existing pipeline by raising the pressure. It involves augmenting the pumping substations in Athens, NY and Dover, NY. This methane would flow eventually through Connecticut, Long Island, and into Manhattan.
Very high view of the overall connection of multiple methane lines, with ExC area in lower right region
Zoomed-in view of the ExC region, showing Dover and Athens
Arial view in Dover region. Note the proximity to Cricket Valley energy (CVE) , a recently constructed gas-fired power plant: much less than a mile by the way the crow flies is the Dover Iroquois compressor station, which would be expanded from 18,000 to 30,000 hp. if the Iroquois EXC gets approved. Although CVE did NOT sign on to the expansion, they do get their gas from Iroquois.
In Dover region, local municipal and environmental concern: note the wetlands, the Great Swamp (one of the largest wetlands in the Northeast), the school, and the train tracks line running through woods directly east of the Dover Compressor Station
In Athens region. Hazard: note Athens Gen within ¼ mile of the compressor station (after a Connecticut explosion due to proximity of power plant and compressor station, this was no longer allowed, but grandfathered in Athens).
Of note also is all the various infrastructure within ½ mile of the Athens Iroquois Compressor Station. Clockwise from upper left: Central Hudson Natural Gas regulating station, Peckham asphalt melting plant, note gas lines, Amerigas storage facility, and Conrail train tracks, North East Treaters, Lumber treating company with multiple chemical and kilns. Center: a Niagara Mohawk electrical generating station.
From Iroquis Gas : Athens Compressor Station would increase from 10.000 to 22,000 hp, Dover Compressor Station would increase from 18,000 to 30,000, Brookfield Compressor Station would increase from 18,000 to 42,000 hp!!! Very large increases!
What Iroquois claims are the benefits.
Here is the rebuttal to all those claims.
Iroquois says: Supply will alleviate need for gas moratoriums.
Truth: There will be no threat of moratoriums. When the Williams Pipeline Project was halted, National Grid and Con Ed threatened people with shutting off the heat. Cuomo then forced the two utilities to find other options to get more heat to downstate NY. Backstory: In order to create political pressure on Cuomo to approve the Williams pipeline, which would have helped National Grid lock in gas use and profits for decades, they faked a gas shortage and denied new gas hookups to thousands of ratepayers and small businesses. But thanks to activist pressure, Cuomo called National Grid's bluff, demanded that they lift the moratorium, and fined them $36 million.
Iroquois says: EXC facilitates conversion from oil heat to gas heat while supplying new construction with natural gas instead of #2 fuel oil.
Truth: Utility companies are stopping the promotion of conversions to natural gas for heat and stoves and instead pushing for heat pumps and electrical appliances (which will ultimately use renewable energy). Natural Gas (methane) produces over 86 times more Green House Gas (GHG) than fuel oil (CO2).
Iroquois says: EXC provides additional capacity with no new pipeline.
Truth: The Iroquois pipeline is over thirty years old. Increasing capacity would increase pipeline leakage and potential for breaches and worse.
Iroquois says: Reduction in life cycle GHG and air pollution.
Truth: Increasing methane pressure and flow, regardless of any measures to reduce emissions at the source, will increase greenhouse gas (GHG) and air pollution. At any/every point, from the source to the end destination (homes in NYC and LI), pollution risks increase. The pipeline will leak, the compressor stations will leak, and properties using the gas will leak, all creating additional GHG emissions. This is counter to the need to stop climate chaos! The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, FERC, actually confirms that this project WILL increase GHG. Methane is some 80 times worse as a GHG in the shorter term than CO2.
Iroquois says: Increased property taxes for host communities.
Truth: Tax increase wouldn’t happen as the compressor station footprint wouldn’t change (according to FERC).
Iroquois says: Construction jobs and boost to local economy during construction.
Truth: Workers will likely be from out of state, few local hires; boost to Athens/local economy would be very small and short term.
CONCLUSION: AS WE SEE CLIMATE CHAOS ALL AROUND US, WE MUST DEMAND MORE ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF RENEWABLE ENERGY!!!
Health Impacts and Dangers negate any possible benefits.
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Potential Dangers and Health Impacts of Compressor Stations
• All pipeline infrastructure including compressor stations is an accident waiting to happen. Add a spark to a two-minute compressor station gas leak and within two seconds an explosion would cause second degree burns to death to those nearby. Read an article.
• Over the past five years, “The US has experienced one major compressor station or pipeline explosion every year. ” Matt Bevins, Chair, Greater Boston Chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility .
• Increased Risk of Disease from Compressor Station emissions: Expansion of the station could cause the release of increased amounts of NO2, CO, volatile organic compounds, formaldehyde, and particulate matter into the air. Exposure to these chemicals can cause respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, neurological, immunological diseases, and developmental disorders and cancer.
• “In our opinion, the routine emissions surrounding the operation of natural gas compressor stations in New York State (NYS) increase the risk for most major categories of human disease in the state but especially in the communities where they are sited.” Drs. Russo and Carpenter, Institute for Health & the Environment, Rensselaer NY.
