Advertisement Natural gas pipeline construction to continue as planned Vermont's Public Service Board releases decision on controversial plan Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Vermont's Public Service Board has ruled construction of a $154 million natural gas pipeline will continue as planned.Board members decided there was not enough evidence to reopen discussion of the plan.Watch this storyThe decision has been in the works for several months. The Addison Natural Gas Pipeline construction will continue.Regulators said despite higher cost estimates, they didn't have sufficient grounds to reopen the 2013 final order that allowed Vermont Gas to build the 43-mile pipeline in the first place.Read the full decisionThe board held public hearings in June and December to hear from concerned citizens before making the 52-page ruling.“The Addison project will deliver a new clean energy choice to thousands of Vermont families, businesses, and institutions. The decision concludes a thorough regulatory proceeding and we appreciate the opportunity to keep moving forward," Vermont Gas spokeswoman Elizabeth Parent said in a press release. “Our company has worked through significant challenges to get the project on track. We appreciate the time and effort invested in this project by many potential customers, businesses, towns, and landowners along the route."The public service board wrote that a significant factor in their decision-making was that Vermont Gas said it was committed to the memorandum of understanding with the Department of Public Service, which represents the people.That pledge capped the amount the utility could recover from ratepayers at $134 million.Project opponents were not happy with the decision."While the world is turning away from fossil fuels, it appears that fracked gas continues to enjoy the warm embrace of the Public Service Board. This really is a terrible decision," VPIRG Executive Director Paul Burns said. "VPIRG believes the evidence was clear that safer, cleaner and cheaper alternatives to fracked gas are available today. That means that the $154 million pipeline cannot possibly be in the public’s interest."The executive director of the Vermont Fuel Dealers Association said it's risky for VGS to build this pipeline."If they spend a $154 million building a pipeline and no one converts, yeah there's some trouble for them because then the rest of the ratepayers have to absorb the cost," said Matt Cota.Lt. Governor Phil Scott applauded the Public Service Board's decision."Vermont Gas has done a good job getting this important infrastructure project back on track so more Vermonters, Vermont businesses like Cabot and Vermont institutions like Porter Hospital can benefit from cleaner natural gas and save money," Scott said. "I am particularly pleased that their agreement with the Public Service Department caps the costs that can be charged in rates and that their efforts to renew discussions with landowners have resulted in agreements with 161 of 164 landowners."