The Pipeline is in the past. Or is it? The best way to keep this wolf away from the door is for the state to continue its slow but determined march toward lowering demand on electricity. But there is a large threat looming: legalized marijuana growing.
In Washington state and Colorado, marijuana growers use so much electricity that they have reversed all energy conservation measures in those states. Electric companies have even had to build new substations to supply those greenhouses. A vote for legalized marijuana in the upcoming state referendum will threaten our state’s energy conservation successes, and the pipeline will have new demand for its construction.
Freedom isn’t free. And conservation may require strict controls over pot growers’ energy use. Either that or just vote no.
John Walter
Shutesbury