Posted by Ed on December 10, 2007, 10:24 pm
24.34.144.49
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Do research on power plant,
then decide
The Billerica School System and the associated teachers have done a
great job producing dedicated, high-performing, caring students who
go on in life to become intelligent, hard-working, responsible
adults. Some graduates from Billerica have written technical manuals,
become doctors, nurses, engineers, professional athletes, chefs — and
some even work with small furry animals and Boston Chinese
restaurants. Whatever your path in life is, I encourage everyone to
read and research.
Turn off the TV at night — as one of our group members commented —
Gilligan doesn't get off the island!
All the information about the proposed power plant is at DG Clean
Power's Web site; this is where Billerica Watchers has gotten all of
its information about the proposed plant. We are not alarmist, nor
trying to save the planet, we are simply trying to fill in the non-
published and general misinformation. If you are interested in
reading the sworn testimony, this is in our Yahoo Group "files"
section. We encourage everyone to read and do their own research, as
we have done. Here is some information that is often misunderstood or
not thoroughly researched: The site chosen does have various toxins
in the soil and DG Clean Power has refused to do a transmissivity
test (testimony on file) and this is soil they will be disturbing and
further could contaminate the river.
The proposed plant is permitted 2,300 hours (that is nine hours a
day, five days a week, 52 weeks a year). Simply do the math. The
Environmental Impact Report with the total running is submitted to
the state and is on DG Clean Power's Web site.
The noise levels will exceed the DEP's 10 decibel increase to
abutting residents — this is testimony on file.
Grey water, as noted by the proponent in the April 10 meeting, is
clear water and is normally sent downstream from the BWWTP. The
Concord River is a U.S. Navigable River and is federally protected.
The Concord River is on the TMDL (also known as 303d list)- Mass DEP
Site: http://mass.gov/dep/water/resources/tmdls.h tm#multiw.
Research from the National Highway and Safety claims approximately
five tons of CO2 emissions a year for a car. With more than 428,000
tons of CO2 emitted, if we had bumper-to-bumper traffic from
Burlington, Mass., to Ossipee, N.H., on both sides of Route 3 — this
would equal the emissions from the proposed power plant (one lane,
both sides, about 100 miles and cars averaging 15 feet in length).
Car emission information is also available at:
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/consumer/f00013.h tm.
A peaking plant will not shut down, slow down or stop any of our
older coal-burning plants (documented in EFSB's procedural phase).
This peaking plant is burning fossil fuel and does emit emissions.
Particulate pollution is the most harmful to your lungs (see American
Lung Association at lungusa. org) This proposed peaking plant can not
start in a blackout (testimony on file).
In 1999-2004, nearly 10,000 MW of combined cycle generating systems
were installed in New England -
http://www.isone.com/committees/comm_wkgrps/othr/icsp/mtrls/2006/apr24
2006/april13_action_items .pdf (page 7).
If the plant is built, it will take six months total to build —
three-month peak on jobs (initial petition and DEIR on DG Clean
Power's site).
Billerica Watchers has asked, and has been answered, through our
procedural phase, regarding local employment. DG Clean Power will not
commit to who or where these workers will come from.
The state agencies are reviewing the proposal. However, it is not
part of the state agencies' policies to scrutinize the details of the
information supplied to them.
All of our members have a love for the Merrimack Valley. Our
members care about the Merrimack Valley, the future of the Merrimack
Valley, the health of our residents, children and aging parents.
One last point to think about, find an air expert and ask them if
they would stay or move based on the proximity of a proposed power
plant — and then do your own research — does this person stay or move?
CAROLINE (REID) AHDAB
Billerica Watchers Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BillericaWatchers/
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