Report: West Roxbury Pipeline Approved

In a ruling posted online Tuesday, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission granted the Houston pipeline company Spectra Energy Corp. permission to move forward with the Algonquin Incremental Market natural gas project.

The initial pipeline proposal sparked the formation of several protest groups in West Roxbury as the project would include pipe adjacent to West Roxbury Crushed Stone, where explosives are regularly detonated.

1.73 miles of new 16-inch and 24-inch diameter lateral pipeline along Washington, Grove and Centre streets, as well as a new metering and regulating station at the intersection of Centre and Grove streets would be put in place.

West Roxbury Saves Energy, an all-volunteer, community-based organization, is one of the groups protesting the pipeline. Earlier in the winter WRSE released a rebuttal to a Spectra Energy ad West Roxbury residents received by mail in late December, outlining and clarifying information Spectra presented. Subsequent group meetings took place.

With the approval of federal regulators Spectra will likely anticipate a state legal battle. The company is aiming for 37 miles of pipeline in total, including a stretch under the Hudson River going through parts of New York and Connecticut .The ruling states Spectra needs to file building and environmental protection plans before construction begins.

Also on Patch:

• Results of WRSE Lateral Pipeline Meeting
• WRSE Pipeline Rebuttal to Spectra Ad Mailing
• Do You Support the Gas Pipeline Proposal for West Roxbury?

What are your thoughts on the pipeline? Leave a comment below.

Photo: Washington, Grove & Centre streets in West Roxbury, where the pipeline would be installed. (Credit: Google Maps)