Rally Against Proposed Springfield-Longmeadow Natural Gas Pipeline, Saturday April 9

Source:  Climate Action Now MA

The Springfield Climate Justice Coalition (SCJC) and the Longmeadow Pipeline Awareness Group, along with57 co-sponsoring organizations (as of April 8), will hold a rally on Saturday April 9, to ramp up the campaign against Eversource’s proposed Springfield-Longmeadow natural gas pipeline. The event will be held outside Springfield’s Federal Courthouse building at 300 State Street beginning at 1 p.m. The location is wheelchair accessible and there will be Spanish language interpretation.

This rally is a registered event participating in Green Faith’s Sacred Season for Climate Justice. The event will begin with an opening prayer led by Apostle W. Faye August. The event will feature musical performances and a large slate of speakers.

Background
This high pressure pipeline would originate at a new point of delivery (POD) station in Longmeadow, travel under major roads, through residential neighborhoods in Longmeadow and Springfield, including many environmental justice communities, to connect with the Bliss Street Regulator Station in downtown Springfield.

Members of the Springfield and Longmeadow communities are joining together, supported by groups across the state, to oppose this proposed pipeline because it is unhealthy, dangerous, climate-changing, costly, and unnecessary. Speakers will reveal why this pipeline is not needed, how it will put the Springfield and Longmeadow communities at risk, disproportionately impact marginalized groups, and set us back in our efforts to meet the targets set by Massachusetts’ Climate Roadmap bill: 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and net zero by 2050. 

Eversource claims that this is a “reliability” project that will reduce Springfield’s vulnerability to gas supply disruptions. However, the Bliss Street Regulator Station would remain a single point of failure for Springfield’s entire gas supply. In reality, this proposed pipeline is not about reliability. In the face of the climate emergency, this pipeline would deepen Springfield’s reliance on natural gas, increase Eversource’s profit margin, and keep this fossil fuel company in business despite the state’s efforts to decarbonize our society and reach net zero by 2050. Even as we are fighting this pipeline, we are working towards a clean energy future for Springfield, Longmeadow, and Massachusetts grounded in the principles of energy democracy.

Speakers
The rally will feature speakers from a variety of backgrounds and organizations, including: 

Councilor Jesse Lederman – Springfield City Councilor At-LargeCouncilor Zaida Govan – Springfield Ward 8 City Councilor

Rep. Jake Oliveira – MA State Representative, 7th Hampden district

Rev. Dr. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas – Missioner for Creation Care for the Episcopal Diocese of Western MA and Southern New England Conference, and United Church of Christ

Jenny Girona – Representing Women on the Vanguard inc.

Monte Pearson – Member of 350 MA and the Fix the Grid Campaign

Candejah Pink – Springfield resident, Vice President of Chess Angels Promotions, member of the Springfield Climate Justice Coalition

Naia Tenerowicz – Springfield resident, member of the Springfield Climate Justice Coalition and Climate Action Now

Tanisha Arena- Executive Director, Arise for Social Justice

Jackie Velez-Springfield Climate Justice Coalition

Terry Gibson-Neighbor to Neighbor

Steve Marantz – Longmeadow resident

Dr. Sonji Johnson-Anderson

Representative Bud Williams

Representative Brian Ashe

and a statement from Senator Edward Markey 

Rally Organizers
Springfield Climate Justice Coalition

Longmeadow Pipeline Awareness Group

Co-sponsoring Organizations: