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energy policy

Why Gov. Healey Wants Faster Federal Review of a Proposed Massachusetts Gas Pipeline Expansion

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On October 1, 2026, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey asked the Trump administration to move faster on federal reviews and permits for Enbridge’s proposed Project RARE gas-pipeline expansion. She wants clear schedules and coordination among federal agencies—but says speed must not come at the cost of environmental review or meaningful engagement with affected communities. The proposal is under FERC review and has not been approved.

Why is Healey asking the federal government to expedite review?

Healey’s letter to U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright calls for clear review schedules, coordination among federal agencies, and enough resources to keep the process on track. Her case is that timely federal action could help keep the project aligned with its proposed schedule and allow customers to receive potential savings. She wrote, “Thorough and timely review are not competing goals.”

The request is for faster federal review and permitting; it was addressed to Wright and the Trump administration, not directly to FERC. Healey also explicitly said an expedited process should preserve environmental review and meaningful community engagement. Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, October 1, 2026; Healey’s letter to Secretary Wright.

What is Project RARE?

Project RARE—Reliable Affordable Resilient Enhancement—is Enbridge’s proposal to add capacity to the Algonquin gas transmission system. FERC lists it as the Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC AGT Enhancement Project, docket PF26-7-000.

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The project descriptions use different measures and scopes. Healey’s letter describes approximately 73,500 dekatherms per day of additional capacity. WBUR reports roughly 75 million cubic feet per day, attributing that figure to Enbridge, and describes replacing about eight miles of existing pipeline with wider pipe in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, a secondary pipeline segment in Rhode Island, and an upgrade to the compressor station in Cromwell, Connecticut. FERC’s project page lists approximately 13.5 miles of pipeline segments and associated facilities in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, along with compression upgrades at the existing Cromwell station. These figures come from different sources and descriptions; they should not be treated as independently reconciled measurements.

Healey’s letter gives a planned in-service date of 2028. It says two 10-year firm transportation agreements approved by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities begin November 1, 2029, and argues that delays could put expected customer benefits at risk. Those are the state’s stated timelines; FERC’s project page does not establish that the proposal will be approved or meet them. WBUR’s October 1, 2026 report; FERC’s AGT Enhancement Project page.

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Has FERC approved the pipeline expansion?

No. FERC accepted the project into its pre-filing environmental review process on February 24, 2026, and its project page says the proposal has not been approved.

Pre-filing is a pre-application phase intended to identify environmental issues early. It includes opportunities for public comment and scoping. Healey’s letter says FERC had conducted public scoping by October 1, 2026. Pre-filing is not a construction authorization or a final decision on the project. FERC’s AGT Enhancement Project page.

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How much could the project save customers?

The Healey administration estimates that added supply could reduce reliance on higher-priced imported liquefied natural gas from the Everett LNG Terminal, producing about $40 million in direct annual savings for roughly 600,000 gas customers. This is a state projection, not a verified or realized saving. The available figures do not establish customers’ eventual bills, the project’s final costs, or how any savings would be distributed. Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs; Healey’s letter to Secretary Wright.

What are the arguments about reliability and climate?

Eversource says the added capacity matters for winter demand and could reduce reliance on imported LNG. Its spokesperson William Hinkle also cautioned that the project would not solve the region’s affordability problem alone. Climate advocates, meanwhile, argue that adding gas infrastructure could prolong or encourage gas use despite Massachusetts emissions goals. Larry Chretien, executive director of the Green Energy Consumers Alliance, warned against using the pipeline as a reason to let gas consumption rise.

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These are competing positions, not settled findings about the project’s net effect. The review and subsequent outcomes would need to address the practical questions: whether the added supply improves winter reliability, what customers ultimately pay, what environmental and community impacts are identified, and how the proposal fits Massachusetts emissions goals. WBUR’s October 1, 2026 report.

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Is Project RARE the same as Project Beacon?

No. Project Beacon is a separate Enbridge proposal. WBUR reported on October 1, 2026, that Beacon remained at an early development stage and had not been submitted for federal review. RARE is the proposal in FERC’s pre-filing process. WBUR.

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