Activists protest proposed Eversource gas pipeline in Springfield

Protestors hold signs decrying Eversource’s proposed pipeline, which would run through Springfield.
Reminder Publishing photo by Sarah Heinonen

SPRINGFIELD — A few dozen people, armed with signs, props and theatrics, met at the Eversource location on Cadwell Drive in Springfield.

The group was there to bring attention to the ongoing battle over Eversource’s efforts to install a new gas pipeline through the city, which has consistently ranked among the country’s worst air for quality.

Activists in Springfield have been fighting against the pipeline since it was first proposed by Columbia Gas in 2017. After a Columbia Gas explosion in the Merrimack Valley in 2018, Eversource purchased the gas infrastructure that runs through Springfield. In 2021, the company resurrected the old Columbia Gas plan when it proposed the Western Massachusetts Gas Reliability Project.

Eversource has argued that the pipeline is not an effort to add more gas customers. Instead, it said the pipeline would function as a redundancy if something were to happen to the existing pipeline that runs under Memorial Bridge to the Bliss Street station. The line serves 52,000 metered customers in the lower Pioneer Valley. The redundancy line pipeline would run from a metering station in Longmeadow, near an existing Tennessee Gas pipeline, through the town and north to the Bliss Street metering station.

Residents have consistently pushed back against the pipeline several concerns. Springfield residents, who experienced a natural gas explosion of their own in 2012, are concerned about the safety of high-pressure gas lines. They also cite the impact of fossil fuels on the environment and the $85 million pricetag, which will be borne by ratepayers.

“The reason I came out, I was told by Eversource, there are more than 1,000 gas leaks in Springfield. Before we even talk about new construction, let’s fix the gas leaks,” said Charlie Holmes. He explained that his house was shaken by the 2012 gas explosion and said that, unlike that gas line, the proposed line will be under high pressure.

“Springfield is the City of Firsts,” Holmes said, using one of Springfield’s monikers. “We should be the first with clean energy.” Holmes said he is not against Eversource as a company, but added, “I want them to do the right thing by Springfield.”

Teniel Rhiney is an organizer with Arise for Social Justice. She said Eversource has been in “a holding pattern” since the state rejected Eversource’s Environmental Impact Statement in 2023. The company was told it would need to do more outreach to justify the project. In 2025, Eversource hosted a listening session for Springfield and Longmeadow residents.

The protest was one of three hosted throughout the state in conjunction with the group Mass Power Forward. Rhiney said the purpose of the action was to keep the pipeline in the public’s mind, “But also to tell legislators they can do things to help.” There are several bills making their way through the Legislature that would affect the pipeline issue. Senate bill S.2291 would prevent companies from passing the cost of pipeline projects onto ratepayers, while S. 2290 would establish a moratorium on new gas system expansion.

Naia Tenerowicz called out state Sens. Adam Gomez and Jo Comerford, and state Reps. Orlando Ramos and Bud Williams for the work they have done on this issue. However, she said Eversource and other utility companies are paying many legislators through donations to ignore the needs of Massachusetts residents.

“People’s energy bills are sky high,” Rhiney said. Meanwhile, “Eversource has continued to say, ‘No matter what you think or feel, we are going to continue to do this.’” She said that showed a “blatant disregard for the people of Springfield.”

Reminder Publishing reached out to Eversource for comment, but the company did not respond by press time.