ORANGE — The Board of Selectmen this week sided with neighboring landowners who have said “no” to pipeline surveyors.
Orange is no longer in the proposed path of the Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co.’s Northeast Energy Direct project, but the board continues to participate in the fight at the urging of local activists.
While board members are not universally opposed to the pipeline, selectmen on Wednesday unanimously supported a letter to the state Department of Public Utilities opposing the energy giant’s requests to allow surveying without landowner permission.
Selectman Kathy Reinig drafted the letter, which says that the pipeline holds no benefit to the residents of Orange strong enough to override the individual rights of property owners elsewhere.
Reinig drew from an independent report commissioned by the Attorney General’s Office concluding that the power system is not at risk without the pipeline and that its construction is not consistent with the green energy goals of the region.
At a special town meeting last year, Orange residents joined other towns in passing a resolution calling on selectmen to oppose the pipeline, and on area legislators to oppose the pipeline and champion sustainable energy.
Reinig said that meeting had an uncharacteristically high turnout — town meetings typically struggle to reach quorum — thanks mostly to anti-pipeline sentiment.
You can reach Chris Curtis at:
ccurtis@recorder.com