Marc Veasey on Pipeline Safety and Extreme Weather Risks

The Critical Need for Pipeline Safety

• 💡 Pipeline safety is not a luxury but a necessity, supporting over 3 million miles of pipelines that power the country and are essential for heating, cooling, and jobs.
• ⚠️ The reauthorization of FIMSA (Pipeline Safety Act) is long overdue, especially as pipeline miles expand, infrastructure ages, and new fuels like hydrogen and CO2 enter the system.
• 📈 With surging energy demand, population growth, new infrastructure, and increasing extreme weather events, the stakes for pipeline safety are exceptionally high.

Practical Steps for Enhancing Pipeline Safety

• 🏠 The committee could mandate in-home methane detectors or natural gas alarms, a recommendation from the NTSB that has shown a 90% decrease in incidents in Japan.
• 🔥 Thermally activated shut-off valves are simple, inexpensive devices that can mitigate fire damage by automatically closing gas service when exposed to heat, costing around $75 and already required in Massachusetts.

Building Trust in Next-Generation Pipelines

• 🔍 CO2 and hydrogen pipelines require improved regulations to address unique physical properties and risks, as some types currently lack minimum safety standards.
• 🤝 Modernizing regulations is crucial for building trust, especially as communities push back on these projects due to a lack of understanding of their risks and benefits.
• 🗣️ Congress should support tools like mapping, early engagement, and post-incident transparency to build trust and involve the public before incidents occur, rather than just responding to them.