LYNNFIELD — Kinder Morgan has the gas, but they were well short of friends during a meeting the state Department of Public Utilities held at Lynnfield Middle School Wednesday night. 

The purpose of the gathering was to assess Kinder Morgan's request to send its people on private property to survey land abutting the proposed path of a natural gas Pipeline, which will originate in New York before coming to Dracut and then, in what is called a lateral, slice through sections of Middleton, Lynnfield and West Peabody. It's meant to connect finally to an existing pipeline in Danvers.

The DPU will make a determination on whether the company should be allowed on private property, according to chairwoman Angela O'Connor. Wednesday night, state officials mostly listened. Meanwhile, the department has no history of disallowing such surveys. Moreover, final determination on the pipeline will likely fall to the Federal Energy Resources Commission. Such meetings, however, can sometimes influence and change plans to lessen the impact on residents.

While speakers addressed the rights of property owners to control their own land, mostly they attacked the very concept of the pipeline as well as the reputation of Kinder Morgan. Public officials were well represented, with Peabody Mayor Ted Bettencourt lamenting that the natural gas will not be delivered to North Shore customers. 

Rather, he said, "It will be connected to a lateral that's going to Nova Scotia for export." Thus there is no economic benefit on the horizon for the North Shore, he indicated. Bettencourt also complained the pipeline will adversely affect the Glenn Drive neighborhood where it is scheduled to pass through.

Lynnfield Selectman Thomas Terranova announced his town was "aggressively against the pipeline." He asked the DPU representatives, "How would you like a three-foot gas line going through your front yard or backyard?" He pointed to the adverse affect on property values.

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