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Raising the stakes in the pipeline fight
 A few months ago, MassPLAN retained energy and regulatory attorney Richard Kanoff, of the Boston-based firm Burns & Levinson LLP, to assist in our efforts to stop the proposed Kinder Morgan NED project. Right now, Attorney Kanoff is helping us go straight to the heart of what FERC traditionally looks at to determine "need" for a pipeline - contracts with local gas distribution companies. FERC sees contracts for transporting the gas as showing there is a "need" for the gas. However, contracts for capacity on NED require approval at the state level. That's why our newly formed Pipe Line Awareness Network for the Northeast, Inc. is intervening in state regulatory proceedings in New Hampshire and Massachusetts: if the contracts aren't approved, the project will not be commercially viable.
We are now able to use legal and technical experts to unravel the business case that Kinder Morgan and their would-be customers are making for this pipeline. We have already unearthed details that will help us challenge their contracts. We have the chance to stop this proposal in its tracks — if we have sufficient funds to challenge them!
 Do it For Your Mother!
Your Donation to the Legal Fund will be Matched if $10,000 is raised by Mother's Day
Please help us raise $10,000 by Mother's Day (May 10th), and it will be doubled by a generous supporter of the MassPLAN Legal Fund. Donate online or by mail.
Please forward this email to spread the word!
If you can't give money, but can give time or yard sale items, please contact Emily about the Not in Anyone's Back Yard Sales fundraiser along the proposed pipeline route in the works for May.
Opportunities to meet Richard Kanoff
and Learn More About Pipeline Issues
WEDNESDAY — APRIL 22, 2015 – GREENFIELD, MA
— Pipeline Discussion Panel sponsored by the GCC Green Campus Committee. Key presenters include Katy Eiseman and Jim Cutler of MassPLAN, Representative Paul Mark and Richard Kanoff, energy and regulatory counsel for PLAN-NE and MassPLAN, who will present and answer questions. This will be an excellent opportunity for Selectboard members and other municipal employees to hear directly from Mr. Kanoff on the work being done in New Hampshire and Massachusetts to stop Kinder Morgans Northeast Energy Direct pipeline project and how impacted towns can participate in those efforts.
7:00 – 9:00 pm
Greenfield Community College Dining Commons
Greenfield, MA
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SATURDAY — MAY 2, 2015 — TURNERS FALLS, MA
— “The Pipeline and Your Rights – a Forum for Landowners, Municipalities and Citizens” – This forum, sponsored by the Massachusetts PipeLine Awareness Network, will include attorneys, land specialists, elected officials and community activists. Topics will include protecting your rights as landowners, municipalities, and communities, and engaging in FERC and state regulatory proceedings. Participants and panelists to include Scott Cote, Franklin County Registrar of Deeds; State Representative Paul Mark; Regulatory Attorney Richard Kanoff of Burns & Levinson, LLP; Rosemary Wessel, Founder of No Fracked Gas in Mass; Leigh Youngblood, Executive Director of Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust; Meg Burch, Conway Board of Health Chair, Conway Pipeline Task Force Member and FRCOG Pipeline Advisory Committee Member.
10:00am-12:00pm
Great Falls Discovery Center
2 Avenue A
Turners Falls, MA
Other Key Upcoming Events
THURSDAY — APRIL 23, 2015 – CHESHIRE, MA
— Selectboard Informational Meeting on Pipeline Issue. Presentations by Kinder Morgan, Jane Winn of BEAT, Rosemary Wessel of No Fracked Gas in Mass, and others. Open to the Public.
7:00 pm
Cheshire Elementary School Auditorium
191 Church Street
Cheshire, MA
Spring-Time Skills:
Learn to Help Identify and Certify Vernal Pools
Vernal pools are a vital part of our ecosystem and are found all along the proposed pipeline route. Please consider getting your fellow townspeople together to identify and certify vernal pools that could be in danger. Here's some training to learn how.
SUNDAY — MAY 3, 2015 — PITTSFIELD, MA
— How to Certify a Vernal Pool workshop , followed by a field trip to two vernal pools. If you have a camera, clip board, and writing implement, please bring them, but this is not required. Please pre-register by contacting Jane – jane@thebeatnews.org or 413-230-7321.
1:00 – 3:30 PM
Starting at General Bartlett Rm.,
Susan B. Anthony
Berkshire Community College
Pittsfield, MA
Many more upcoming event for this week on our site
• Lots of Earth Day events
• Look for ongoing letter-writing workshops in Nassau, NY!
• Get the latest on Beyond Extreme Energy's FERC Action coming up in May!
 A Letter Today *Might* Keep the Surveyors Away
Spring is here - and surveyors are about. Sending a registered letter denying or rescinding permission is more necessary than ever. Here's our latest page of info on how to protect your property and what to do if it falls prey.
» Dealing with Surveys
Come Learn about the Pipeline at River Valley Market!
 No Fracked Gas in Mass is the chosen recipient of River Valley Market's Green Stamp Program for April. As part of this, we were invited to have an information table out front. A large number of volunteers stepped forward to help us spread the word, including members of 350MA - Berkshire, Climate Action Now!, Hilltown Community Rights and MassPLAN.
» Stop by, sign the petition to Gov. Baker, and donate to the cause!
Buttons, Matchbooks, Bumperstickers and Yard Signs available!
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NEW TO THE PIPELINE MOVEMENT?
We'd like to welcome all our new subscribers and invite you to look over our Getting Started and Act Now pages to see ideas on how you and your community can fight the pipeline!
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