Boston City Council votes to crack down on natural-gas leaks

The Boston City Council today voted 12-1 for an ordinance that would prod the city's two gas companies to speed up repairs of hundreds, possibly thousands, of natural-gas leaks in the city.

Under the measure, which now goes to Mayor Walsh, National Grid and Eversource would be required to grade all leaks and provide reports and repair schedules for them to the city, would be asked to fix leaks along streets being torn up for other reasons - at risk of having non-emergency permits denied if they refuse - and would have to reimburse the city for the costs of street trees killed by escaping gas.

Only Councilor Frank Baker (Dorchester) voted against. He did not explain why.

In addition to dead trees, escaping gas contributes to climate change - methane is a more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide - and costs Boston consumers roughly $90 million - Councilor Matt O'Malley (Jamaica Plain, West Roxbury), who sponsored the measure, said, adding that if National Grid fixed all its leaks, it wouldn't need gas from the controversial West Roxbury pipeline.

O'Malley called the ordinance his proudest accomplishment as a councilor and added, "Now more than ever, cities and statees need to lead in environmental policy," he said.