OREANDA-NEWS. Massachusetts Petroleum Council Executive Director Steve Dodge said the amendment adopted by the Senate today to the energy bill could prevent Bay State consumers from benefiting from additional supplies of clean, reliable and affordable natural gas. The amendment prohibits the Department of Public Utilities from approving private pipeline financing.

“Blocking additional natural gas supplies to the region can only hurt consumers,” said Dodge. “The Senate bill allows special interest groups to determine what’s best for Massachusetts ratepayers. We need to give Massachusetts consumers and manufacturers a break, not potentially pile on additional costs and waste opportunities to lower utility bills.

“Natural gas is providing reliable and affordable power to residential, commercial and industrial customers throughout New England. The region’s natural gas-fired power resources are among the newest, most efficient and lowest-emitting plants in the country. In fact, the United States -- now the number one producer of natural gas and oil -- has become the global leader in reduced carbon and other emissions, which are near 20-year lows.

“But without new pipeline infrastructure, New England consumers and businesses will be at a disadvantage – hurting our economy and making it hard to keep good paying jobs in our region. Failing to expand the region’s energy infrastructure could cost families and businesses $5.4 billion in energy costs in the next four years alone.

“A strong majority of Massachusetts residents are concerned about their cost of energy and believe lawmakers are not doing enough to make energy more affordable,” said Dodge. "Massachusetts middle class families deserve better. They need their legislators to put them first and adopt common sense energy policies that will lower energy bills and create jobs."

The Massachusetts Petroleum Council is a division of API, which represents all segments of America’s oil and natural gas industry. Its more than 650 members produce, process, and distribute most of the nation’s energy. The industry also supports 9.8 million U.S. jobs and 8 percent of the U.S. economy.