Environmental reporter for @WBUR, Boston's NPR news station.
Email: mrwasser@bu.edu
Aug 19, 2021 • 9 tweets • 3 min read
1/🧵 A little background on what's happening at the Weymouth Compressor
On 8/6, Enbridge (the company that built/operates the compressor) notified Weymouth that was going to complete "various facility enhancements, site restoration activities," and "install cathodic protection"
2/ Simply put, cathodic protection is a technique to protect metal surfaces from corroding. In this case, it means Enbridge is digging up parts of the property to get to its underground pipelines and other infrastructure.
Screenshot of the excavation plan 👇
Feb 8, 2021 • 54 tweets • 16 min read
1/ Hello Twitter-verse 👋
I'm covering the 1-8pm MA energy siting board meeting about a proposed electrical substation in East Boston. I expect many hours of public comment, followed by a vote on whether to approve the project.
Follow this thread for the latest #mapoli@WBUR2/ Before the meeting starts, brush up on the project and why many residents oppose it: wbur.org/earthwhile/201…
🧵(1/4) The MA energy siting board is slated to take a final vote this week on whether to allow an electrical substation in a flood-prone area of East Boston.
From language access to COVID-concerns, here's why residents say the public process is broken: wbur.org/earthwhile/202…
(2/4) Here's some background on the project, as well as relevant climate, safety and environmental justice concerns: wbur.org/earthwhile/201…
Jan 21, 2021 • 7 tweets • 2 min read
Petite biomass thread 🧵
🤓 <-- Me
(1/7) The Reading Select board voted 4-1 this week to go on record opposing proposed renewable energy rule changes that would make it easier for a biomass plant in Springfield to be built.
Background on the changes: wbur.org/earthwhile/202…
(2/7)This is significant because the town of Reading holds the largest contract for the plant's power. (Technically, the Reading Municipal Light Department holds the contract, but it's on behalf of the town's residents)
Jan 19, 2021 • 10 tweets • 3 min read
(1/9) Today in MA environmental news, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (better known as FERC) discussed the Weymouth Natural Gas Compressor Station.
Here's a little thread about what happened and what it might mean because "yay" for context 🧵
(2/9)The Weymouth compressor is a controversial piece of infrastructure that will allow fracked gas from PA to get to northern New England and Canada. Residents, elected officials and enviros have opposed it for years
Hey there, Massachusetts! I want to clear up some confusion about a provision in the climate bill currently on Gov. Baker's desk. The bill DOES NOT put a 5-yr moratorium on wood-burning biomass facilities like the one proposed in Springfield.
🧵(1/8) #mapoli#NextGenRoadmap
(2/8) And it DOES NOT affect the proposed rule changes from the Department of Energy Resources to allow certain biomass facilitates to get lucrative renewable energy subsidies.
(1/8) As early as today, Enbridge, the company behind the Weymouth #naturalgas compressor station, could start releasing gas into the Fore River Basin. These "controlled venting" events will occur as the compressor station gets "tied in" to the interstate pipeline system.
(2/8) But as this letter 👆 from the Mayor of Braintree points out, a court recently vacated part of the company's air quality permit. Here's some background on that decision: wbur.org/earthwhile/202…
Jan 30, 2020 • 4 tweets • 2 min read
(1/4) Boston University professor @nathanpboston began a hunger strike yesterday as part of his ongoing protest over a natural gas compressor station in Weymouth.
Phillips is demanding:
-That the state enforce decontamination measures for vehicles leaving the property
(2/4) -That old burner bricks throughout the site be tested for asbestos
-And that the state install new air quality monitors at the site.
