In April 2017, the Massachusetts Association of Health Boards wrote to the 351 boards of health in the commonwealth asking them to consider signing a joint letter to Gov. Charlie Baker about the health risks of fracked gas infrastructure (pipelines and compressor stations) and the importance of supporting clean renewable energy instead of more fossil fuel infrastructure.
The negative health impacts of high-pressure fracked gas infrastructure include asthma and heart disease from particulate matter, neurologic disease and miscarriage due to heavy metals, and cancer due to carcinogens such as benzene and radioactive radon and lead. In addition, extracting and burning fracked gas contributes to climate change.
The Sierra Club, the Massachusetts Association of Health Boards, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Climate Action Now, and Mothers Out Front request that every board of health in the Pioneer Valley and western Massachusetts sign on to the letter to Gov. Baker. Doing so will highlight the potential dangers of new fracked gas infrastructure and the importance of rapid expansion of renewable energy generation in Massachusetts.
T. Stephen Jones, MD
Florence
The letter also was signed by Ira Helfand, Marty Nathan and Sarah Partan of Northampton, and Suzanne Theberge of Amherst.