Dozens help build cabin in defiance of pipeline route through Ashfield, MA.
A post-and-beam cabin the size of Henry David Thoreau’s Walden Pond home went up Wednesday as an act of civil disobedience; but the timber-frame structure is sanctioned in Ashfield, where Selectboard members, who oppose the Northeast Energy Direct gas pipeline, helped Will Elwell and a few dozen volunteers build the cabin Wednesday morning.
“We’re here doing our job — to oppose the pipeline,” said Selectboard member Ron Coler, who pointed out that the town adopted a resolution to oppose the controversial pipeline last year. “Ashfield is second in (proposed) pipeline length only to Northfield,” said Coler.
Selectboard member Todd Olanyk added that this week, the board voted to ask annual town meeting voters to spend $10,000 to help in a legal fight, led by Montague, to oppose building a pipeline that runs through several Franklin County towns, going east to Dracut. Montague is the only Franklin County town with intervenor’s status to oppose Berkshire Gas Co.’s request to the state Department of Public Utilities to buy gas from pipeline proposed by energy giant Kinder Morgan.
Builder Will Elwell designed the cabin from hand-hewn barn beams donated by Nick Meyer of Conway, as a symbol of resistance to the pipeline. “This is going to be a symbol of our discontent and our disappointment with the gas line company and their disrespect for us,” said Elwell, in a speech just before the first walls went up.
He said the proposed pipeline route is to cross the road and run directly under the center of the cabin.
“I’m hoping it will be a symbol of our hopes for stopping the pipeline,” said Elwell. “Henry David Thoreau wrote the book on Civil Disobedience, and having the right to make our wishes known. There is some kind of disconnect with the system, which is allowing this pipeline to come right through.”
At: http://www.recorder.com/News/Local/Dozens-help-build-cabin-in-defiance-of-pipeline-route-Ashfield-710037