A utility company blamed for a series of natural gas explosions in the Merrimack that left one person dead and damaged dozens of homes has agreed to plead guilty to breaking pipeline safety laws,
The lessons learned through the Merrimack Valley recovery effort can help form a roadmap for future infrastructure projects. To be successful, these projects will need adequate definition at the start and continuous efforts to contain scope.
As proposals to build new pipelines and related infrastructure meet opposition from community leaders and environmental activists across Massachusetts, gas companies have frozen new gas hookups several communities citing a lack of pipeline capacity.
Federal prosecutors have begun a criminal investigation into utility company NiSource Inc over gas explosions and fires in three Massachusetts communities that killed one person and injured at least 21 others in September, the company disclosed on Thursday.
The utility company involved in last month’s explosions and fires in Massachusetts said it has replaced nearly 36 miles of main pipeline in the area.
Recent gas explosions that rocked the Merrimack Valley and led to the death of an 18-year-old could lead to the financial deterioration of Columbia Gas and its parent company.
Last year’s state budget surplus could provide funding to help Merrimack Valley residents and businesses struggling to recover from an ongoing natural gas emergency, according to House Speaker Robert DeLeo, who said he’s confident that lawmakers would unite around an aid package, if necessary.
Gov. Charlie Baker on Friday afternoon declared a state of emergency in the wake of a series of gas fires and explosions in the Merrimack Valley, handing over control of the response to Eversource in place of the local utility that Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera said had been “hiding from the problem.”
