Years-long CT gas pipeline stalled at the finish line. Why the $200M+ project faces a permit dispute
After seven years, $150 million and 31 of 34 miles already
under ground, the state has halted a pipeline project designed to provide a
more dependable natural gas supply to the booming southeastern Connecticut
economy.
The reason for what could become years of delay is a
decision by the Department
of Energy and Environmental Protection requiring a comprehensive
environmental review of parts of a mile or so of what remains to be completed
of Eversource’s southeastern
Connecticut gas resiliency project.
The environmental impact evaluation is limited to a plan to
install gas pipeline on a little more than a mile of Eversource electric rights
of way that cross the rugged granite ledges of two state parks on either side
of the river where the towns of Middletown, East Hampton and Haddam meet.
To the west, the right of way crosses about 100 feet of a
narrow strip of Penn Central rail line that is now Connecticut Valley Railroad State Park. On the east, about
a mile of pipe would run across the south end of Hurd State Park, part of which
was donated to the state by one of the companies that became Eversource, the
Hartford Electric Eight Company. Connecticut River
The central piece of the yet-to-be completed stretch of
pipeline would be tunneled beneath the Connecticut River. The stretch beneath
the river is excluded from the environmental impact evaluation because DEEP
said it doesn’t have permitting authority over the submerged land.
If, after the environmental review, the work proceeds, no
one would see much of it because there would be little surface disturbance.
About two-thirds of the 6,700 feet of 16 inch steel pipe beneath the river and
crossing parts of the two parks would run through subterranean tunnels drilled
by a high tech boring machine.
The purpose of the 34 mile pipeline from Middletown to
Montville is to increase pressure in the existing distribution system and
enable the company to continue gas service in the event of a failure by
bypassing the trouble spot. Eversource said the region’s high volume gas
customers include two casinos; four colleges, including the U.S. Coast Guard
Academy; Pfizer’s global Research and Development center; the U.S. Naval
Submarine Base; and the Electric Boat division of General Dynamics, which
is hiring 8,000 people this year and building the
nation’s top defense priority, the Columbia class ballistic missile submarine.
DEEP said it is requires an environmental evaluation
because Eversource is
modifying an easement it has over state land by installing a gas line where
only electric transmission lines have been permitted. The company wants to run
the pipe below massive, metal pylons carrying transmission lines that once tied
the Connecticut Yankee nuclear power plant in Haddam to the electric grid.
For months, contractors with heavy equipment have working
along the rights of way to maintain the electric lines.
Not surprisingly, Eversource Gas and its customers disagree
with DEEP about the evaluation and resulting project delay. The disagreement
has touched on larger questions about whether the state is moving to phase out
natural gas, a fossil fuel, before securing adequate replacements.
“I urge DEEP to prioritize the completion of this project
and recognize its essential role in safeguarding the well-being of Southeastern
Connecticut,” Tony Sheridan, president of the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut, wrote
in a news opinion column. “The remaining work in Hurd State Park should be
approached with thoughtful environmental consideration — but also with the
urgency that energy security demands.”
DEEP said in written answers to questions that its
environmental impact evaluation is required by law. The department said the
evaluation has started and will delay the project at least through spring 2027
because an analysis of the pipeline’s environmental impact on the utility
rights of way needs to be studied over all four seasons.
Eversource Gas, which is paying for the state consultant
hired to do the impact evaluation, predicted it will delay completion of the
project by two or possibly three years. The company estimates delay will push
project cost from $193 million to $214 million. As of last month, the company
said it had spent $146 million on the project so far.
The gas resiliency project took root about 5 years ago after
severe winter storms and deep freezes knocked out power for prolonged periods
during the administration of former Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.
“When I became governor I inherited a state that had been
hands off on a lot of these issues,” Malloy said. “The storms bared how
unprepared we were. The reality had been that there had been a lack of
investment over a long period of time. It was all hands on deck quite frankly
because no one had been on decks for a long time.”
Unlike today, policy makers then looked favorably on natural
gas and even incentivized conversion to gas as an alternative to oil-generate
energy.
In response to political pressure, Eversource Gas examined
its distribution system’s “resiliency and redundancy” and developed a plan to
strengthen it, president Kevin Kelley said. It proposed building 80 miles of
pipeline across the state, the most important part of which would be the 34
mile southeast gas resiliency project connecting Montville and Middletown.
The Public
Utility Regulatory Authority approved the project, calling it “a
fundamental public policy goal, essential to the state’s economic vitality and
protection of the public health, safety and welfare.”
Among other things the pipeline would deliver natural gas to
fuel cells — like one operated by the town of Colchester that uses an
electrochemical process to produce electricity from gas without combustion.
Eversource Gas began construction at the Montville end of
the pipeline in 2019. A year earlier it had begun obtaining annual permits from
DEEP that allowed it to do geological tests on the company electric rights of
way through the parks in connection with locating the pipeline. The permits
permitted “geotechnical borings” tests associated with pipeline design.
There were some restrictions on the testing. DEEP notified
Eversource by letter that the state was placing conditions based on concern for
two species of plants, two species of insect, two species of turtle, a snake
and a bird found in the Hurd Park right of way.
“There should be a qualified herpetologist on site to avoid
adverse impacts to all state listed reptile species,” DEEP’s letter said. “All
personnel working on the project must be apprised of the reptile species
description and the possible presence of a listed species, and instructed to
relocate turtles and snakes found in work areas or notify the appropriate
authorities to relocate individuals.”
To protect the plants, DEEP said all boring had to be done
15 feet away from the listed plants — one of which, the sand blackberry,
establishes “utility transition corridors” as habitat. In addition, Eversource
was to “install avoidance fencing, flagging or similar measures in the field
for all known populations (of the plants)… under the supervision of a qualified
botanist.”
To protect the two insect species, Eversource was instructed
to avoid test borings at certain times of the year.
There is disagreement between Eversource and DEEP over how
and when the company learned the project must submit to an Environmental Impact
Evaluation and the ensuing delay.
DEEP said the evaluation is a legal requirement triggered
because Eversource wants to modify its easement permitting electric lines on
state land in order to permit the additional installation of a gas line. Kelley
said the company believed the existing easement was satisfactory and wasn’t
told otherwise until after investing years of work on he project.
“So they were well aware that we were planning on going in
the easement that our electric friends have,” he said. “We have done some
environmental studies on it. We didn’t feel that we had to go through this
process. This all came to us as a surprise. Again, the state was well aware
that we had this project on going. They approved it in our rate case. We were
in contact with DEEP and PURA regarding this as we went through our rate case,
explaining where we were at with the program, the costs, all of those things.”
“And then we ran into a roadblock with DEEP when they
announced that we had to go through the (environmental impact evaluation)
process,” he said.
DEEP acknowledges that it permitted years of testing on the
easement associated with pipeline construction. But it said in a statement that
doesn’t exempt the project from an impact evaluation.
“DEEP has issued separate licenses for testing related to
the gas line dating back to 2018, licenses required in part because the
easements did not provide for natural gas,” the agency said. “DEEP reminded
Eversource of this need for new or modified easements in March of 2023, and
Eversource applied for easement modifications in August of 2025.”
“The Connecticut Environmental Policy Act requires
Environmental Impact Evaluations for state agency actions that could have
significant environmental impacts where the full degree of the impact is
unknown.” DEEP said. “Here, the full degree of the impact remains unknown, but
the expansion might significantly affect the environment, given how rich in
species and sensitive habitat the proposed easement area is.”
There also is disagreement over discussions between the two
sides about whether Eversource needed to get approval from the state
legislature in order to cross the Connecticut River with a gas pipeline.
“DEEP initially communicated that they wouldn’t entertain an
application for an easement modification within Hurd State Park, claiming that
we lacked necessary legislative approval, as the river crossing authority may
come up as an issue and that they wanted to help us be aware of that,” an
Eversource spokeswoman said.
Eversource said there was a six month project delay in 2024
while it argued that legislative approval was not necessary. Among other
things, the company said it has crossed rivers with gas lines at least five
times – rivers from Stamford to Ledyard – without obtaining approval from the
Legislature. In the end, Eversource said DEEP decided to press the requirement
for an environmental evaluation.
DEEP said the question of legislative approval arose because
it advised Eversource that it does not have authority to grant easements
beneath rivers.
“DEEP shared that those rights may need to be secured from
the Connecticut General Assembly, and that ultimately, it’s Eversource’s
responsibility to ensure it has the requisite land rights under the river to
construct this project. DEEP communicated that whether or not Eversource has
those rights would not affect DEEP’s work on the issues within its jurisdiction
regarding the river crossing, such as permits,” the agency said.
DEEP said the purpose of its Environmental
Impact Evaluation is not to approve or deny projects. The agency said
ithe evaluation “recommends mitigation measures to avoid impacts if the
pipeline moves forward, and examines alternatives to the proposed action.”
If Eversource does not agree to recommended mitigation
measures, or if the easement modification were denied because the evaluation
concludes the environmental harm is so great it could not be mitigated, DEEP
said, “Eversource may opt to evaluate other options.”
Eversource said source said it already tried that.
Kelley said the company looked at eight alternative
locations to cross the river before settling on on the route through the parks.
“Based on the easement we had, this is the perfect place,”
he said. “It still is the perfect place to cross.”
If the project should be denied, Kelley said, “We would be
in a full scale panic.”
Draft ruling clears way for 7,462-panel solar project near Glastonbury school
A proposed 4-megawatt solar facility spanning about 19 acres
in Portland is on track for state approval after the Connecticut Siting Council
issued a draft opinion endorsing the project.
In its June 18 draft ruling, the council found that the
project would provide a public benefit and cause no substantial environmental
harm, and that it meets the legal threshold for approval under state energy
policy.
Those findings portend council approval of the project,
which includes 7,462 solar panels on a 41.9-acre property owned by Walnut Hill
Farms LLC. The site is accessed from Old Maids Lane in Glastonbury.
The $9.5 million project would sell power to Eversource
Energy under a 20-year tariff agreement. According to the draft
findings of fact, North Haven-based Greenskies Clean Energy expects to begin
construction in spring or summer 2027, with the facility fully commissioned by
the end of 2027.
If that schedule holds, the project would meet the federal
deadline for the Investment Tax Credit, which requires solar projects
receiving the benefit to begin commercial operation by Dec. 31, 2027.
The Siting Council’s final decision deadline is Oct. 22.
The proposal drew concerns from neighboring Glastonbury
because the site sits about 1,050 feet south of Nayaug Elementary School.
Glastonbury was granted party status in the proceeding, and
Old Maids Lane resident Charles Walsh participated as an intervenor. Both
raised concerns about construction noise, potential glare and long-term site
restoration.
The council addressed those concerns, but largely sided with
the developer. The draft opinion directs Greenskies to coordinate construction
activities with the town and school and to conduct a post-construction noise
study to verify compliance with state standards.
Glastonbury, represented by Hartford law firm Halloran
Sage, filed comments with the council seeking stronger conditions in the
final ruling, including a firm requirement that pile driving occur during
school recesses.
Construction would require clearing about 5.2 acres of trees
and 4.8 acres of an apple orchard.
The facility is designed to operate for at least 20 years.
During that time, Eversource would own the electricity, capacity rights and
renewable energy credits generated by the project.
Waterbury Branch trains to be replaced by buses for nearly a year starting July 20
This Wednesday, fares will go up 5% for customers
taking CTrail and Metro-North
Railroad trains in Connecticut.
On top of that, riders on the Waterbury Branch will switch
entirely to bus service starting July 20 because of construction at four of its
six stations. Rail service is expected to return in June 2027.
Waterbury branch riders have experienced such switches
previously. Buses replaced trains for about two months in 2024 after extreme
rainfall resulted in washouts
along the rail line. In 2021, trains were unavailable for four months
because of infrastructure
upgrades.
Last Thursday afternoon at the Bridgeport train
station, where the Waterbury Branch
connects to the New Haven Line, Abrina Geyer was about to board a bus that
already runs on the line between trains.
She said she thinks the full switch to buses, which are a
bit slower than trains, will “be inconvenient for a lot of working people and
people traveling, period,” and so will the fare hike.
The Connecticut
Department of Transportation has said the fare increase and a previous
5% hike that took place in September 2025 were necessary to maintain rail
service levels amid rising costs.
Adam Bosworth, who was taking the train Thursday because of
car trouble, said he thinks the fare increase has to be done.
“But I think it’s going to take a lot away from people who
can’t afford it,” he said.
DOT conducted what is known as an equity
analysis last year, finding that the 10% total increase wouldn’t
result in a “disparate impact or a disproportionate burden on minority or
low-income customers.”
In a statement, agency spokesperson Eva Zymaris said
that whenever buses replace trains in the state, fares are charged to cover the
costs of bus service. She noted that buses
are currently running on the Hartford Line in the place of several
weekday trains because of infrastructure work by Amtrak.
At an unrelated event Friday in Wethersfield, DOT
Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto said riders continue to pay full fare because
conductors must still be paid to check tickets and assist customers.
“We still have to pay for full service of the complement of
Metro-North staffing,” he said.
Construction on the Derby-Shelton, Ansonia, Beacon Falls and
Seymour stations started in May and is scheduled to finish by spring 2028. The
work is part of an estimated $193 million effort to upgrade all
the stations on the branch, whose ridership and
service levels are up about 47% and 35% from pre-COVID levels, respectively.
Officials have said that work at the Beacon Falls and
Ansonia stations can’t be done safely while trains are running on the
single-track line.
“This includes shifting the track to align with new, longer
platforms,” according to a May
press release from Gov. Ned Lamont’s office. “Suspending service allows
crews to work at both locations at the same time and complete the work as
quickly as possible.”
During the outage, DOT also plans to perform bridge, signal
and infrastructure upgrades between Stratford and Bridgeport as part of a
separate project.
“By completing these efforts together, the state expects to
save more than $47 million and shorten the Waterbury Station improvements by
approximately one year,” according to the release.
Cheryle Corbo, who takes the Waterbury Branch a
couple days a week to avoid paying high gas prices, said she would like to see
improvements to the experience on the trains themselves.
“People are loud and obnoxious,” Corbo said. “There’s 17
different iPhones going at the same time, with people’s music blasting. Nobody
says anything to them. I think that’s so rude, so unacceptable. They need to
work on that.”
Come July 20, Corbo said she will probably drive because she
is concerned about the reliability of the buses.
“I only have to come in two days a week. I don’t want to
deal with that,” she said. “I’ve heard too many times that the buses don’t show
up or they’re late and you don’t have any notification.”
Zymaris from the state DOT said riders “can still expect the
same level of service and reliability while being bused to their destination.”
At the event in Wethersfield, Lamont announced that
on July
4 and 5, there will be free rides on CTtransit buses and $2.50 fares
charged for rides between stations on the Hartford Line and Shore Line East for
celebrations of the 250th birthday of the U.S.
Estimated $5 million Middletown roads project expected to lessen crashes
MIDDLETOWN — A road construction project — estimated to cost
a little over $5 million — awarded state funding years ago has been reworked
with a smaller scope.
The Saybrook Road reconstruction and pedestrian access
project is slated for Saybrook Road, from Tryon Street to the intersection
of East Main Street, Acting Deputy Director of Middletown Public
Works Brian Gartner said in an email Tuesday. The area has been identified as
having an excess of motor vehicle crashes, and the project aims to address
that, local officials said.
Gartner said the project is estimated to cost anywhere
between $5.1 million and $5.3 million.
Construction will be primarily funded by a $3.3 million
state Local
Transportation Capital Improvement Program grant, Gartner said during
a presentation to the Common Council at its June 1 meeting.
“The potential exists for supplemental LOTCIP funding,
and will be explored once the design is complete and the final cost estimates
are available,” he explained Tuesday.
The city will pay for the project design and
nonparticipating construction costs that aren’t eligible for
funding. Money will come from speed
camera revenue, Gartner said June 1.
The project was initiated in 2013. Recommendations included
further work, including on other streets, such as Bow Lane and Wall Street.
That is no longer in the plan, Gartner said.
There were a few problems in the project's first iteration,
Gartner said June 1, including that it was a "little too ambitious
for funds available at time," he added.
Nocera said 39 easements were needed from nearby property
owners to widen the road in the first rendition, which, he added, proved
"impossible." Now, only eight properties would be affected,
according to the slideshow.
“We’re looking to take far less property. We’re looking to
have far less impacts on private property,” Gartner said June 1. “There will
essentially be no impacts on the east side of the road now, where previously we
were looking to encroach on several properties pretty significantly with the
addition of the bike paths and sidewalks,” he explained.
The city’s 2013 Complete
Streets master plan lists Saybrook as a priority to incorporate
complete streets policies, according to Gartner's PowerPoint
presentation at the June 1 meeting.
Proposed improvements include building an 8-to-10-foot-wide multiuse trail on
the west side of Saybrook Road, Gartner said in the email Tuesday. Also, one
travel lane in each direction will have 2-foot-wide shoulders.
“The existing pavement will be milled and overlain except in
areas that require widening, and existing curbing will be replaced with
concrete curbing,” Gartner said Tuesday. Also, existing catch basins will be
relocated as necessary.
Data Gartner obtained from the University of Connecticut Crash Data
Repository shows there were more than 50 accidents over a five-year
period in the blocks surrounding Saybrook Road, including at the intersection
of Mill Street, Wall Street, and the Stop & Shop plaza, he said.
Presently, there is a well-worn but narrow path made by
pedestrians, he said during the meeting.
“There are always folks walking on the side of the road.
There is no safe passage for people to get from the shopping plaza, to the
school, to the apartments. (Bielefield) Elementary School children who walk to
school need to cross Saybrook Road. Yet again, there’s no provisions for
crosswalks, for sidewalks, there’s no safe way to accommodate this movement,”
Gartner continued.