MWRA slams Massport for $8M charge
‘This is extorting us’
The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority advisory board is accusing Massport of “extorting” $8 million from MWRA communities for the Boston Harbor dredging project — a plan that will be a boon to Massport’s coffers at ratepayers’ expense, board members said Tuesday.
The MWRA advisory board is now looking for help from the State House to cover an $8 million cable easement charge after Massport’s recent “greedy” actions, said MWRA Advisory Board Executive Director Joe Favaloro.
“Frankly, enough is enough,” he told the Herald. “This is extorting us, pushing costs on to the MWRA water and sewer ratepayers.”
The $350 million dredging project will deepen Boston Harbor down to 60 feet, allowing larger tankers and cruise ships to enter Massport’s Conley Terminal in South Boston.
Two years ago, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers greenlighted the project, but the cross-harbor cable that powers MWRA’s Deer Island Treatment Plant was in the way. The cable was not laid deep enough by Eversource’s subsidiary Harbor Electric Energy Co., which provides power to the MWRA.
MWRA ratepayers will pay the $150 million cost of laying a new cable over 30 years — the second time ratepayers will have to pay for a cable to Deer Island, board members said.
But the costs didn’t stop there. Eversource looked at path options for the new electric cable, and decided to go around the edge of Massport’s Conley Terminal. Eversource and Massport negotiated $8 million for an easement charge, which is being passed down to MWRA.
The advisory board was “outraged” to learn about Massport’s $8 million “shakedown” after the MWRA was already set to pay $150 million to move the cable, the executive director said.
“The bottom line is, the dredging project solely benefits Massport. They will receive additional revenue sources from larger cargo ships and cruise ships,” Favaloro said. “This additional money for a project that benefits them is just greedy.”
In response to the MWRA advisory board, a Massport spokeswoman said in a statement: “The cross harbor cable would not have impacted the dredging project had it been installed to its proper depth as permitted nearly three decades ago. Massport negotiated in good faith to limit the impact on the MWRA’s customers while advancing the dredging project.”
An Eversource spokeswoman said in a statement, “While the (MWRA) Advisory Board takes issue with an $8 million payment to Massport, it must be recognized that it is compensation for the continued use of Massport property for the cable to serve Deer Island. It’s also important to note, the construction of the new cable project has gone exceedingly well. It’s expected to be completed ahead of schedule and on or below budget.”