Researchers at PSE Healthy Energy released a first-of-its-kind study published yesterday in Energy Policy that calculates the incidence of uncombusted gas leaks nationwide as well as the burden on fire departments. The researchers found that nationwide gas leaks cost taxpayers half a billion dollars in 2018.
Here’s the toplines for Massachusetts, where Boston was in the top 20 cities for gas leak incidents in 2018:
- In 2018, Boston firefighters responded to 570 gas leak incidents, costing the city approximately $2.6 million.
- Each of these gas leak incidents cost taxpayers $4,677
- From 2010 to 2019, firefighters responded to a total of 5,496 gas leaks
Read the full study and review the topline findings at the PSE Healthy Energy website.
Gas leaks have nearly quadrupled in 15 yrs, risking carbon monoxide poisoning, explosions & costing taxpayers half a billion $$ every year. Boston is among the worst cities in the US for gas leaks, costing taxpayers over $2.6 million in 2018 alone.
Newton has had an average of 3 to 4 emergency Grade 1 emergency leaks per week. Also see Ratepayer Ripoff, an article about a 2023 report that shows that National Grid’s Newton pipeline replacement projects and cost recovery practices have been ineffective in reducing gas leaks or lowering methane emissions, impose unnecessary and excessive costs on ratepayers and taxpayers and undermine Newton’s Climate Action Plan goals.
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