Proposed Natural Gas Pipeline Information Session

By Kaniehtonkie

Mohawk Council of Akwesasne held an informational session for residents of Kawehno:ke on Monday, September 24. Peter Valiquet, an independent consultant, presented an overview of the proposed natural gas line providing attendees with: what natural gas is, a brief history of natural gas, how natural gas is harvested, and a brief comparison of natural gas and other fuels. He also shared how the natural gas line would be installed and what types of materials would be used in the installation.

The natural gas pipeline running underneath the Kawehno:ke bridge was installed in 1962. At the time there wasn’t any type of consultation as to whether Kawehno:ke residents wanted a part of it. The pipeline was designed under the National Energy Board guidelines solely for the purpose of serving St. Lawrence Gas (Enbridge). As far as reparation for the pipeline running through Akwesasne - compensation went to the Federal Bridge Corporation.

Fast forward forty-seven years later to 2009 and Enbridge signs the Cooperation and Land Use Agreement with Mohawk Council. Akwesasne finally receives financial compensation from Enbridge for the presence of the natural gas pipeline as well a promise to explore the distribution on Kawehno:ke.

Eight years later in January 2017, under the leadership of then Premier Kathleen Wynne, the province of Ontario announced the New Natural Gas Grant. The grant read, “Ontario is expanding access to natural gas for communities that do not currently have service, including those in rural and Northern Ontario and First Nations communities… Municipalities and First Nations communities will be able to work with utilities and natural gas distributors to bring forward proposals under a competitive intake process.”

MCA won the Ontario’s New Natural Gas Grant and at that point began the process of meeting with and hiring a consultant to assist in the informational consultation process with Kawehno:ke.

After his presentation, the meeting was open for discussion and questions. With well over 30 residents in attendance, questions from the floor took over at least two hours of the meeting.

Many, but not all, of the questions are paraphrased here:

The map provided was difficult to read, does the map include potential business, homes, etc.? The installation of the natural gas pipeline will be a ‘one-time’ shot.

The cost of converting from fuel to natural gas is considerable. Will MCA provide a subsidy to offset the cost of converting appliances or the purchase of new appliances? And who will actually do the work? Licensed technicians will do the actual work and until it is approved by Enbridge, it will not be turned on.

Will Enbridge provide earthquake monitors? Enbridge has seismic valves and any excess flow is immediately shut off when this is detected.

How will MCA find out if every resident wants this? MCA will go door to door canvasing every home in Kawehno:ke. Only Kawehno:ke will be canvased.

Will Enbridge/MCA give preference to hiring local people. Yes, they will.

What about Kana:takon and Tsi Snaihne? Because of the existing pipeline at the bridge, this makes Kawehno:ke the only viable community. Future projects could include Kana:takon and Tsi Snaihne but would run off a main pipeline along Route 37.

Several homes exploded from natural gas leaks in three towns in Massachusetts recently. Was Enbridge responsible? No. That was another gas company (Columbia Gas of Massachusetts).

Will the pipeline go along the existing easement? Yes. It would follow along the waterline.

How safe is this? Every point of design is for safety.

Is this one in a series of meetings on the natural gas pipeline? Yes,

What will be the homeowner cost? To convert propane to natural cost is estimated at $1000. To Convert fuel to natural gas is around $4000 to $6000. This will be explored once approved by Kawehno:ke residents.

What do we save on using natural gas? The savings come from the commodity cost of natural gas itself. Natural gas is the least expensive of fuels.

How is natural gas transported? That would be a great question for Enbridge.

What is the timeframe of this? Its estimated to take 21 weeks to install. If approved, the project would start in 2020.

One-in-five homes in Akwesasne are sub-standard as far as meeting construction standards and regulations. We need to work on raising housing codes. We have the highest rate of house fires in Ontario. We have trouble enforcing housing codes. I completed an energy study on AMS, they installed air-cooled heating pumps and they are saving a considerable amount of money. We should explore this option instead of natural gas. Sixty years ago was the time to explore natural gas. Natural gas is harvested by fracking, and this is getting harder and harder to reach. Homes in Akwesasne are wasting fuel by being substandard. We have five grids around us – National Grid, Cornwall Electric, Hydro One, Massena Electric and several wind farms in northern New York and southern Ontario. Why do this? We (MCA) have several areas of needs; housing, roads, health, education.

Hydroelectric is a renewable form of energy, natural gas is not. Why natural gas? The natural gas grant provided by Ontario makes this project possible.

What is the shelf life of the plastic pipes? That is a great question for Enbridge. I do know plastic never disintegrates.

Who is responsible for a safe connection to the home? Enbridge.

We should check homes now to see is this is feasible. We (MCA) will conduct comprehensive surveys including visiting homes.

Will this be a separate agreement from the existing agreement with Enbridge? Yes.

Will you need to get ‘right of way’? Right of way has already been given with the waterline that includes road traffic and utilities.