Environmental Justice

Confused About The Weymouth Compressor? Here's What You Need To Know (Link)

For the last few years, a coalition of South Shore towns and local activists have worked to block the construction of a natural gas compressor station in North Weymouth. The project involves multiple permits and court cases at the state and federal level, making it hard for even the most avid news consumer to follow.

Opposition to the compressor tends to focus on three things: concerns about fossil fuels and climate change; safety and emergency response plans; and public health and environmental justice. Let’s tackle these one-by-one:

1. Concerns about fossil fuels: The proposed pipeline infrastructure is designed to last for decades, so critics worry that facilities like the Weymouth compressor will prolong the region's reliance on fossil fuels. Compressor stations also emit methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.

2. Concerns about safety and emergency response: Accidents at compressor stations are rare, but not unheard of. In January, a cold snap caused a Michigan compressor station to release a large quantity of methane, which caught fire and exploded. No one was injured, but people living near the proposed Weymouth compressor worry that if an accident happened in their city, they wouldn’t be so lucky.

With about 3,100 people per square mile, Weymouth is more densely populated than any other municipality in the state that hosts a compressor station. (The five existing stations are in Hopkinton, Mendon, Charlton, Agawam and Southwick.)

The proposed site, which is prone to coastal flooding, is also less than 1.5 miles from schools with more than 3,000 students, elderly housing, nursing homes and a mental health facility. Those trying to stop the compressor worry that an accident at the station could damage the Fore River Bridge or other critical infrastructure, and prevent a timely and safe evacuation.

3. Public health and environmental justice concerns: The proposed area of North Weymouth is already burdened by industrial activities and includes two state-designated “environmental justice” communities. State data also shows that residents have statistically higher rates of cancer, pediatric asthma and cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. As a recent report from the group Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility notes, “the proposed compressor station is, even by data provided by the company itself, likely to worsen the health and safety at this already at-risk community.”