Healey concedes natural gas’ key role in energy mix – Lowell Sun

When it comes to energy supplies, the corner office — at least for the time being — has chosen economic pragmatism over ideology.

Gov. Maura Healey signaled that shift by expressing her support for Eversource Energy’s proposal to lock in more natural gas for Massachusetts, a sign that at least one official in her administration sees fossil fuel continuing as an integral component of the state’s energy mix.

“We appreciate this 10-year proposal. Massachusetts and the Northeast need more energy supply for reliability and to lower energy bills. That’s why we are committed to an all-of-the above approach to energy resources, and gas continues to play an important role in our overall energy supply,” Healey said in a statement.

The governor’s remarks followed Eversource’s filing with state regulators for approval of a decade-long contract to purchase additional natural gas from an upcoming expansion of the Algonquin Gas Transmission Pipeline.

Eversource said a proposed contract with Canadian pipeline owner Enbridge would “increase reliable supply and improve affordability by reducing winter price volatility for customers.” Enbridge expects to complete the project in 2029, subject to regulatory and government approvals.

Eversource would reduce winter gas supply costs for former Columbia Gas franchise customers by 17%, representing a 5% drop in their total gas heating bill in 2030 — an overall reduction of $340 million over 10 years. Legacy NStar customers would see a roughly 1% drop in their heating bills, or $60 million over 10 years.

These savings would coincide with Eversource’s plans to use this domestic source of gas to replace imports from overseas via the liquefied natural gas terminal in Everett, a generally more expensive source.

Eversource executives said the Enbridge expansion would also help ease supply constraints for its customers in Southeastern Massachusetts.

Enbridge would expand the Algonquin pipeline capacity by 75 million cubic feet per day, or about 2% of the 1,100-mile pipeline system’s total capacity, by simply replacing existing pipes with wider ones.

Eversource would purchase roughly 40% of that amount.

An Enbridge spokesperson said the project will upgrade pipes within or next to existing rights of way. Construction will take place in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, including in the towns of Mendon, Bellingham, Franklin, and Wrentham, with a goal of completing the work by 2029.

The company has asked the Department of Public Utilities to issue a decision by February 2026, ahead of a March 1 deadline written into the agreement.

Repeating a theme that she’s touted before, Healey said at a public event hosted by Bloomberg on Wednesday that she supports an “all of the above” approach to energy.

Asked whether that strategy includes new natural gas pipelines in Massachusetts, the governor reiterated her support for the Eversource project.

Uncertainty in other parts of the energy sector no doubt played a role in Healey’s support for the Eversource initiative.

The state last month paused its next offshore wind procurement until at least 2026, citing delays in federal permitting and ongoing contract negotiations.

And the Trump administration recently ordered a halt to the nearly completed Revolution Wind project off the New England coast. Grid operator ISO New England, which had factored that power into its near-term supply plans, warned that “delaying the project will increase risks to reliability” of the grid.

Of course, even this minor capacity expansion of an existing pipeline sends shivers through the environmental lobby. The long-term nature of this project must be viewed as an admission that alternative energy sources can’t replace natural gas’ abundance and reliability any time soon.

Nonetheless environmental advocates said regulators should carefully weigh whether more gas infrastructure is warranted.

“Acadia Center is reviewing the proposed pipeline expansion project, which responds to the task given to gas utilities by the DPU to phase-out reliance on Everett Marine Terminal,” the group said in a statement.

“Phasing-out reliance on EMT should be done first with all available clean energy solutions, rather than with expanded gas pipeline supply.”

Greg Cunningham, vice president of the Conservation Law Foundation, said his organization will look into the project’s details, including whether any of this gas will be used to increase Enbridge’s ability to export gas. Though the project seems relatively small, he said, any “enhancements’’ to the pipeline system come with a cost that is ultimately borne by families and businesses.

Even Healey’s Cabinet — one member in particular — can’t be thrilled with this practical decision.

Fielding questions from lawmakers in April, Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper wouldn’t commit to an expansion of gas infrastructure to help offset the state’s soaring energy costs.

“As you know, we use natural gas in the state, and it’s an important part of our energy mix right now,” Tepper said, replying to a question by state Sen. Kelly Dooner, a Taunton Republican, about whether the administration’s goal of diversifying energy sources included expanding natural gas.

“[We] really want to look at all the different options for clean energy. The governor’s about yes and not about no, and adding and not about subtracting,” Tepper added.

Well, in this case, the governor’s concept of “adding” was signing on to a major state utility’s plan to provide more natural gas.