ST. LOUIS COUNTY (KMOX) - A representative of Spire Inc. got an earful from St. Louis County Council members over what one councilwoman called a "manufactured catastrophe" concerning a gas pipeline that could be shut down next month.
Planning manager for company that provides gas services to Missouri and other states, David Yonce, was invited to speak at Tuesday's County Council meeting. He was met with some grilling by Councilwoman Lisa Clancy and others.
"This feels a little bit like a manufactured catastrophe designed to solve some public relations issues that you and your company are having around this right now," Clancy says. "It really has caused a lot of fear in the community."
On Friday, Spire sent an email to its more than 600,000 customers saying homes and businesses in the St. Louis area could see gas outages this winter if the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) doesn't allow its STL Pipeline to stay open after Dec. 13. The Environmental Defense Fund won a lawsuit against company, arguing that the 65-mile pipeline that stretches from St. Louis to Scott County, Illinois was unnecessary and that it would harm the land for years to come.
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Spire contends that the pipeline is vital to providing gas services to its customers in St. Louis. Yonce told the council that Spire can't get the entire supply of gas that would be lost from other sources. How serious of a problem it could cause this winter will depend on the weather and usage throughout the coldest months of the year in the area.
"The risk is there, the risk is real. We do hope FERK does the right thing and issues the temporary emergency certificate," Yonce says. "But at this point in time we don't know if they will or when they will."
Clancy says she was assured by another representative with Spire that FERC will likely allow the pipeline to operate through the winter.
Councilman Tim Fitch asked if the email was "about putting pressure on FERC" to make a decision in their favor. Yonce said they believed it was "the prudent thing to do" to let people know before problem arise.
Council Chair Rita Heard Days said she'd schedule a hearing with Spire and sided with Clancy's claim.
The issue begins at the 25:30 mark in this video of the regular council meeting from Tuesday night.
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