Bennington Banner
April 28, 1999

Farmer fights pipeline, wins support

Sabina Haskell Latour
Staff Writer

Manchester – Annette Smith was interrupted several times by spontaneous applause.

People shook her hand and gave her crumpled-up dollars to help her cause.

But the two dozen townspeople at Monday’s Select Board meeting weren’t even there to hear from Smith, the earnest farmer from Danby whose solo efforts last week helped convince Dorset officials to be the first to oppose southern Vermont Natural Gas (SVNG) and its proposed 65-mile natural gas pipeline.

The plan would link Bennington and Rutland with a pipeline from New York and build gas-fired, electric generating plants in those towns. A subsidiary of Energy East Corp., SVNG would extend the underground pipeline north to Rutland. Vermont Energy Park Holdings, meanwhile, would build a 270-megawatt power plant in Bennington and a 1,080-megawatt plant in Rutland.

But Smith’s well-rehearsed presentation – prepared with statistics, photos and maps – riveted the audience and Select Board alike. “You make a compelling argument,” Chairman Ivan Beattie said. “We hear your position very strongly. It’s an extremely well-framed position.”

Armed with a three-inch thick file and reading from a carefully prepared statement, Smith took her time to explain why the project is a “brainwashing” the state could do without. “It’s sprawl and blight and represents the kind of growth that will forever change what makes Vermont such a special place to live and work,” smith said.

The power plants would also be “big, ugly and noisy.” Smith questioned the sensibility of placing Bennington’s plant – planned for the former Jard industrial site – so close to Mt. Anthony Union High School.

The promoters tout natural gas’ benefits: It’s cheap, offers a choice of fuels and will create jobs and attract new industries to Vermont. But during peak heating seasons, natural gas is subject to price spikes, Smith said, sometimes tripling its price. Large customers are cut off and are forced to enter the propane and fuel oil markets, which disrupts the price on all fuels for all customers, she added.

SVNG’s claim that the state’s air quality would improve – because natural gas is cleaner than burning other fossil fuels – is untrue, said Smith.

“There are no coal or oil plants in Vermont to replace,” Smith said. The emissions from the gas-fired plants spew dangerous levels of nitrogen oxides, creating ground-level ozone, smog and acid rain. “Bennington and Rutland are each in a bowl, where inversions already occur,” said Smith.

“Bennington has had several days each year since 1994 that have exceeded recommended healthy ozone levels. Acid rain is an enormous problem for New England,” she added.

And SVNG plans to ask landowners along the proposed line for permanent easements to lay the buried pipe on or near their property, Smith said. The 100- to 150-foot-wide corridors needed will require blasting and tear up city streets.

Smith’s property is among the 200 or so properties where SVNG wants to route the pipeline. She has been visiting select boards in towns along the proposed route, asking them to oppose the project before the application is filed in late May.

SVNG is lobbying towns to sign resolutions in support of their project. “Passing resolutions opposing it is the best way to get the attention of the state to say ‘We don’t think this is right for our people,’” Smith said.

While clearly persuaded, Beattie and the rest of the board were still reluctant to officially oppose the project without first having heard from SVNG.

“I can’t imagine what the gas company could say to me that would change my mind. I’m in Annette’s corner on this, but as a person you elected to consider issues on both sides – I haven’t heard form (them),” Beattie added.

Company officials didn’t attend the meeting, although they were invited about three weeks ago, according to Town Manager Jeffrey Wilson. The board gave SVNG one more chance to plead its case at its next meeting on May 11.

“How can you support something when they wont’ even come to discuss it?” Brenda Madkour asked as she pressed a couple of dollars in Smith’s hand.

SVNG is trying equally as hard to court local support for the project. Smith’s rhetoric of environmental and safety issues is “misinformation,” SVNG General manager Michael Eastman said.

“Her generalizations about us are inaccurate. I believe there is a lot of misinformation and innuendos about other places in the country. We have thousands of satisfied communities. This is clearly not about us and not about how we operate.”

The utility has made efforts to inform local officials every step of the way, Eastman said. Dorset’s recent decision stunned the company. “We can’t figure out where this is all at. I think I’m confused. All indications we’ve been receiving were that it was favorable for us to proceed,” he said.