Healey Requested Expedited RARE Pipeline Review

The Massachusetts governor seeks to speed up federal oversight of the Enbridge natural gas expansion project.

Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Utilities

Isometric editorial illustration of a large steel industrial pipe segment resting on wooden supports in a gravel yard. — Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has requested that federal regulators expedite the review process for the Enbridge RARE natural gas pipeline expansion project. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has requested an expedited federal review of the Reliable Affordable Resilient Enhancement (RARE) pipeline project. The project is designed to increase natural gas capacity in New England.

Why it matters

The initiative aims to lower regional energy costs by $40 million annually while reducing reliance on imported liquefied natural gas from the Everett terminal. It is projected to provide gas supply to 600,000 customers.

The RARE project intends to boost daily capacity by 75 million cubic feet. Algonquin currently transports 3.1 billion cubic feet of gas per day across its 1,131-mile network.

The players

Maura Healey

She is the Governor of Massachusetts who oversees the state's energy and utility policies.

Enbridge

This multinational energy infrastructure company is the developer of the RARE natural gas pipeline project.

Eversource Energy

This public utility company serves customers across New England and has secured supply agreements with Algonquin.

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

This federal agency is responsible for reviewing and authorizing interstate natural gas pipeline projects.

The details

Enbridge is developing the expansion, which follows Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities approval of 10-year supply agreements between Algonquin and Eversource Energy units. The project is currently undergoing environmental review through the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

In January 2026, the Massachusetts DPU approved two 10-year agreements for gas supplies.
On October 1, 2026, Governor Healey requested the expedited federal review.
Enbridge is targeting a 2028 in-service date for the project.

Market Landscape

The RARE project is currently subject to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission environmental review process, which governs how large-scale infrastructure projects are evaluated for regulatory approval. The governor is formally petitioning to accelerate this established regulatory process.

Residents and customers served by these utilities could see annual gas bill savings of $40 million if the expansion proceeds as planned. The project aims to improve regional supply stability for 600,000 customers currently dependent on existing infrastructure.

The takeaway

Expediting this pipeline aims to balance regional energy affordability with the transition away from imported liquefied natural gas. Customers should watch for further federal regulatory updates regarding the 2028 project timeline.