Tonight (Wednesday December 3) the Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency will take up applications for the construction of oil and natural gas pipelines to fuel turbine generators at the Kleen Energy plant on River Road.
The gas pipeline, being built by NikkiLabella and Algonquin Gas Transmission is slated to run beneath existing paved roadway, some of which cross wetlands.
A public hearing will be held on a 12-inch, ultra-low-sulfur diesel pipeline which will run from the river's edge, under the Arrigoni Bridge, then under roadways including DeKoven Drive, River Road, Eastern Road and Bow Lane. It will then cross open space between Bow Lane and River Road, where it will cross defined wetlands (see photo of map). The proposed pipeline will be built by Buckeye Partners LP.
Kleen Energy has stated that it will run its turbine generators with natural gas unless natural gas is unavailable or uneconomic, at which time it would burn low-sulfur diesel.
The Inland Wetlands meeting begins at 7 pm in Council Chambers at City Hall. The proceedings will be televised on the local educational access channel on Comcast.
