Massachusetts Governor Healey urges federal fast-track for gas pipeline expansion

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has requested that the Trump administration expedite federal reviews and permits for the expansion of the Algonquin Gas Transmission pipeline. In a letter to U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Healey urged a ‘sense of urgency’ to preserve the project’s planned 2028 in-service date.

The initiative, known as the Reliable Affordable Resilient Enhancement (RARE) Project, is being developed by a unit of the Canadian energy firm Enbridge. The expansion aims to increase capacity by approximately 75 million cubic feet per day, potentially providing gas supply to 600,000 customers. Proponents suggest the project could reduce reliance on expensive imported liquefied natural gas and lower customer bills by an estimated $400 million over ten years.

Healey, who previously opposed new fossil fuel infrastructure during her tenure as attorney general, cited an ‘all of the above’ energy approach. She noted that increasing domestic natural gas supply is essential to reducing high energy costs for New England residents while the state continues to pursue long-term decarbonization goals.