National Grid has ended its controversial plan to charge its electricity customer for natural-gas pipeline projects, aconcept known as the “pipeline tax.” National Grid described the plan as “entering into long-term contracts for natural gas pipeline infrastructure and capacity.” But the idea simply permits National Grid to pay for pipeline improvements and pass those costs on to ratepayers, even those who may not use natural gas. The primary beneficiary of the pipeline tax would have been Houston-based Spectra Energy and its $3 billion Access Northeast project. A series of upgrades to its 1,129-mile Algonquin pipeline is underway, to increase the volume of natural gas delivered from the fracking fields of Pennsylvania through southern New England to terminals outside Boston. National Grid and Eversource Energy are also partners with Spectra Energy in the Access Northeast project, and, according to a Commerce RI analysis, both companies support the pipeline expansion to meet a growing demand for natural gas as new power plants along the pipeline, such as the proposed Clear River Energy Center in Burrllville, come on-line and older ones retire. For more visit ecori.org or click http://bit.ly/2ix0C2k