Monkton isn’t the only Vermont town opposing the natural gas pipeline extension proposed by Vermont Gas Systems (VTGas). The town’s Chittenden County neighbor to the north, Hinesburg, is raising concerns, too.
Vocal opposition in both towns strikes issue with the proposed route of the pipeline, not the pipeline itself. When the $70 million, 42-mile transmission line passes through their towns, they want it to run along the utility transmission corridor owned by VELCO, like it does in other towns, not through the middle of residential areas.
In preparation for VTGas’ project application to the state on Dec. 20, selectboards in both towns have sent formal letters to the Public Service Board opposing the proposed route. The state board is the quasi-judicial body tasked with approving the permit, or certificate of public good, for the company’s expansion project to southern Vermont and over to New York.
In a letter to VTGas and the Public Service Board dated Dec. 4, the selectboard wrote: “The actual track of the pipeline is the town’s highest concern.”
The board members asked VTGas for more clarity and details surrounding the proposed pipeline route along Baldwin Road.
“This is a significant issue for Hinesburg and we expect to be provided with an accurate representation of your intentions,” they wrote. “The selectboard is unanimous in the opinion that Baldwin Road is not a desirable path for this project due to the close proximity of homes, the historic tree lines and limited existing ROW (or Right of Way) clearance. Our citizens are rightfully fearful of a natural gas transmission pipeline just a few yards from their homes.”
In a letter from VTGas spokesman Steve Wark, dated Dec. 12, he explained that choosing a route through Hinesburg was a balancing act. Wark wrote that environmentally and archaeologically sensitive areas were identified, just like in Monkton, and he also indicated that the company would encounter potentially insurmountable obstacles with landowners along the utility corridor.
“There were landowners on this preliminary VELCO alignment that did not want to give permission or access to Vermont Gas and did not want their land used for the project,” he wrote.
Landowners in the area say that VTGas is not providing enough information. One of those individuals is Rep. Bill Lippert, D-Hinesburg, who lives along Baldwin Road.
“They have not released their evaluation of why they’re not going forward with using the VELCO corridor, so I haven’t been able to personally evaluate if that’s a reasonable alternative,” he said on Friday. “It seems we’ve been given notice, but without full information to respond. I think there are safety questions that have not fully been answered yet.”
Lippert also said he’s concerned about the detrimental environmental effects associated with excavating land to lay the pipe.
