Lexington, MA – Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Kennealy today voiced his strong support for the Western Massachusetts Reliability Project and called on Governor Maura Healey to put the needs of Massachusetts citizens ahead of the political agenda of her Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper.

The proposed natural gas pipeline would serve as a critical backup to the single largest natural gas line in Massachusetts, which currently supplies roughly 200,000 residents. At present, there is no redundancy in place—meaning that if the existing line were disrupted, residents could be left without natural gas for up to two months.

Secretary Tepper has previously rejected the project, citing environmental policy priorities that do not account for the severe public safety and energy reliability risks posed by the lack of a backup system.

“This is about common sense,” Kennealy said. “If, God forbid, something happened to our existing natural gas line, 200,000 Massachusetts residents could find themselves in a horrific situation. Responsible leadership means identifying potential crises early and taking action to prevent them. This is a moment when the Governor must step up and do what’s right for the citizens she serves—not simply follow her cabinet secretary’s agenda.”

Kennealy emphasized that energy reliability is not a partisan issue, but a matter of public safety, economic stability, and basic governance. “Massachusetts families and businesses deserve a secure, dependable energy supply,” he added. “The Western Massachusetts Reliability Project is a necessary step to ensure we meet that obligation.”

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