Compressor Station Overview

/

If you saw our billboard and have not heard about the Weymouth compressor station or the expansion of fracked gas in MA, you've come to the right place. Below we have outlined an overview of what a compressor is, why it is a problem, and what you can do to help. We encourage you to explore the rest of our site for more info and to reach out to us if you have any questions!

The Problem

Enbridge, a Canadian energy company, is building a 7,700-horsepower gas compressor station in North Weymouth, along the Fore River. Enbridge began construction in December 2019 after Governor Baker’s agencies (DEP, DPH, CZM) granted approval of all of their permits. The community, the Towns of Weymouth, Braintree, and Hingham, and the City of Quincy challenged Enbridge and MassDEP in court for years, arguing that the compressor would cause unnecessary harm and had no documented need. MassDEP and others disagreed.

The compressor station is part of Enbridge's Atlantic Bridge project, which they built to bring fracked-gas through New England and into Canada. Nearly 70% of the gas is intended for shipment to Canada. (1) 

The Concerns

  • Compressor stations are not safe and have a history of accidents. They emit 10 cancer-causing pollutants, among other pollutants. (2)

  • This compressor station is the first ever to be built in densely populated coastal area. They are typically built on 50+ acre parcels of land; this location is less than 5 acres. There are more than 900 Homes within a 1/2-mile, while 3,100 kids live or go to school within 1 mile of the proposed site! There are more than 13,000 children who attend 33 different schools within 3 miles of the site. 

  • Compressor stations periodically experience "blowdowns."

    • The process in which natural gas is emitted through a vent to depressurize the gas. These periodic releases can be scheduled, as part of an emergency, or even accidental. They are known to be the largest single emission from a compressor station. The blowdown releases a gas plume that extends 40-60 meters in the air. (3)

  • The compressor station could have a negative impact on property value.

    • Homeowners living near a compressor station in NY saw a 25-50% decrease in property value assessment. Property value can also be impacted by various other factors imposed by compressor stations: noise emitted from the compressor station, safety risks, and health impacts. (4)

  • Compressor stations are loud, especially during a "blowdown." Hear for yourself:

How does the approval process work for gas infrastructure projects?

There is no vote on the project. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has the authority to approve or deny the project. FERC is known as a "rubber-stamp agency" because they approve nearly every application that crosses their desk. When proposing to construct a new infrastructure project, Enbridge (or any other company) has to go through an application process with FERC.

Unfortunately, the Weymouth compressor station has passed the approval process. FRRACS (Fore River Residents Against the Compressor Station) has organized in opposition to the project for 5+ years. Over the course of those years, we’ve gained the support of nearly all of our local and state reps, Senators Markey and Warren, and residents across the state. You can see a list of our public supporters here.

Governor Charlie Baker has been the only public official who has not spoken out against this dangerous project. It is known that he has ties to the fossil fuel industry, and has consistently refused to visit the site or meet with concerned residents.

Where do things stand now?

Enbridge started construction in December 2019 and will likely finish this fall. Before the pandemic hit, we were sustaining a long term direct action campaign to stop construction but had to halt our campaign with the spread of COVID-19. The pandemic didn’t stop Enbridge though. Despite the serious health and safety risks of pushing forward with construction during a pandemic, Enbridge was granted approval to proceed. Many of their workers travel from other states and for a long time they were not wearing masks and did not have proper sanitation systems set up.

In June, a First Circuit court vacated Enbridge’s air quality permit. But still, they have continued with construction.

Though construction has continued, we are still fighting. We fight because we have no choice. This compressor station threatens the health of safety of thousands of people and will have detrimental impacts when an accident occurs (because the often do). Not only is the gas not needed, the majority of it is being used for export. And it will further exacerbate the current climate crisis.

We are now shifting our focus to making sure the station is never turned on.

What Can You Do?

  1. URGENT: Submit a comment to MassDEP on the air quality permit. Specific instructions here.

  2. Sign up for email list (below) to be alerted about upcoming actions and events. We won’t spam you with a lot of emails.

  3. Put a “No Compressor” yard in your yard. We deliver! Fill out the form below if you’d like a sign.

  4. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for regular updates about the campaign.

Fill out the form below to receive a yard sign. We deliver signs locally.