Politics & Government

Atkins: Tell Gov to Keep Ethanol Out of Acton

Acton's state rep is calling on constituents to call Gov. Deval Patrick.

The following was posted by Patrick Ball:

Saying she’s just learned he has planned to veto a provision in the fiscal 2014 budget that would prohibit the transportation of ethanol by rail, state Rep. Cory Atkins, D-Concord, is calling on constituents to call the governor.

In a Thursday afternoon email blast, Atkins Chief of Staff Brad Putnam says Gov. Deval Patrick’s veto of the provision would allow Global Petroleum to ship ethanol by train through Acton and Concord, two communities Atkins represents, to a processing facility in Revere.  

Atkins’ call comes a week after the House and Senate passed a $34.06 billion state budget for fiscal 2014, which is still awaiting approval from Patrick.

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This spring, residents in communities through which the ethanol would be transported spoke out against the plan, equating an ethanol-carrying train a "bomb train" and raising potential public safety concerns, according to The Globe.

According to the Globe report, the plan in question hatched after Waltham-based Global Partners applied for a state permit allowing it to transport ethanol by rail to its terminal on Route 1A in Revere. En route, the ethanol would pass through as many as 90 communities, the Globe reported. 

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The full text of the email is pasted below, with the original emphasis (meaning, ALL CAPS and boldface type) included:

PLEASE CALL GOVERNOR PATRICK AT 617-725-4005 AND ASK HIM NOT TO VETO THE SECTION OF THE BUDGET THAT PROHIBITS THE TRANSPORTATION OF ETHANOL BY RAIL

Dear Friends,

As you may know, earlier this year Global Petroleum proposed shipping ethanol by train from the Midwest through Acton and Concord to its processing facility in Revere.  Ethanol is a dangerous, flammable substance used in making gasoline.  On July 1, the legislature included a provision in the annual state budget that would prohibit the transportation of ethanol through densely populated areas.

Rep. Atkins has just learned that Governor Patrick intends to veto this provision of the budget.  Please call the Governor at 617-725-4005 and ask him not to allow the transportation of ethanol by rail.

Please forward this email to all your email lists.  If enough people call the governor today, he might be persuaded to change his mind.


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