The town of Cornwall is calling on the Addison County Regional Planning Commission to fight a proposed natural gas pipeline that, if constructed, would carry gas underground from Middlebury to Ticonderoga, N.Y. 

The Public Service Board approved “Phase One” of the Addison Natural Gas Project, which regional planners endorsed, in late December; that leg will bring gas south from Chittenden County to Middlebury. Vermont Gas — a subsidiary of GazMetro — filed plans requesting approval for “Phase Two” with the PSB in November. The second leg would jog southwest, through Cornwall, Shoreham, and then under Lake Champlain to its terminus: the International Paper plant in Ticonderoga, N.Y. 

In her letter this week to the regional planners, Cornwall selectboard member Judy Watts points to two provisions in the regional plan which she argues provide “specific and unambiguous” reasons for rejecting the Phase II project. The plan states that energy infrastructure and services should not “cause undue adverse impact to the health and safety of residents or on the environmental quality of the Addison Region,” and that no large energy generation or transmission facilities should be constructed in the region “which have as their primary purpose providing energy markets outside the Addison Region.” The letter is signed by all five members of the Cornwall selectboard. 

Related Stories

Kathryn Flagg was a Seven Days staff writer from 2012 through 2015. She completed a fellowship in environmental journalism at Middlebury College, and her work has also appeared in the Addison County Independent, Wyoming Public Radio and Orion Magazine.

13 replies on “Cornwall Board Takes Aim at Vermont Gas Pipeline”

  1. Mary, it’s great that you made a commitment to your wallets as well as the enviornment. You acted in a manner that you feel was in your best interest. Why not let others do the same?
    Also I ask your preference, should IP burn tires, oil, coal or natural gas? Which would be your preference? And if VT gas does not supply IP do you think a NY based company will?
    Here’s my take, IP needs a cheap source of energy. Of their options natural gas is the best for the enviornment and for their wallets. If VT gas doesn’t run a line some other company will.

  3. Tim, I am amazed by the anger you exhibit toward me personally. I think you need to realize when you make these sort of statement that people will try to help you understand the bigger picture. “Your mind is like a parachute. It only works when open.” Just try to understand, I like Charmin, sorry.

Comments are closed.