Locals Push Gov. Patrick To Help Close Salem Power Plant

Governor Deval Patrick came to Marblehead Wednesday evening in a part-campaign fundraiser, part-rally to close the Salem Harbor Power Plant.

"We have been working with Salem and Dominion to find an alternative use and wind down the plant," Patrick said. "It's a huge concern for the people of Marblehead and down the North Shore. The question is what's the right way to wind down and work with the city to do that."

The event, held at the Anchorage Lane home of  Susan and Henry Livingston, drew a large number of supporters of closing the antiquated power plant. Susan Livingston has taken the cause on and is circulating a petition to get the attention of stake-holders. She hopes to have 2,000 signatures soon. It has been well documented that the plant's emissions blow over Marblehead and Wenham and have nearly doubled the cancer rates in some areas according to studies. 

The plant has long been the subject of debate. Last week, The Conservation Law Foundation filed a federal lawsuit against Dominion Energy New England, the company which runs the plant, alleging the company has repeatedly exceeded smokestack emissions limits and violated the Clean Air Act's pollution allowance over 300 times in the past five years. The suit asks Dominion to pay more than $10 million in damages and fines.

Salem has long struggled with how to close the plant, worried the property tax loss would cripple the city budget.

"I've been working on this for 15 years," Lynn Nadeau of Health Link said. Health Link organized more than a decade ago to close the plant. "I don't know what the governor can do at this point though. We as a people need to protect our environment and locate sustainable, clean, local and conservative uses of energy."

During a campaign speech delivered by Patrick, he referenced his work for clean energy, which he said has put Massachusetts ahead of California is energy efficiency. 

"I believe values are generational and we are responsible for leaving things better than we found them," Patrick said. "This is why we need to solve the issue of the Salem power plant. As a generation, we are responsible."

Patrick noted he has been in talks with Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll and Dominion about "winding down" production at the plant. Noting the plant was out of service for months after a fatal accident in November 2007, Patrick said this makes the case that the plant, often called a "fossil fuel dinosaur," is no longer needed.

"We passed six green bills, including the Global Warming Solutions Act with Rep. Lori Ehrlich," Patrick said, noting his support of Cape Wind. "I have talked to the mayor of Salem about alternative uses for the land. She has been interested in deepening the harbor for cruise ships, hotels, housing are all options. The big issue for the city is the property tax loss and we will figure it out so we can wind down and still generate the revenue they need."

During a question and answer session with Patrick, a tense debate emerged. A cancer survivor and father of a cancer survivor who used to live on Naugus Avenue Jack Tatelman was  outspoken in his belief the health of North Shore residents should be the main issue for Patrick.

A Salem woman called out to Patrick, telling him there is a street in Salem where everyone has cancer. 

"The concern of the tax rate in Salem is second to the health of the people," one woman said. "Shut it down."

Patrick said it is not as simple as "turning a key" but instead, he is working on "making a case" to the federal government for the closure.

"Health is primary," Patrick said. "I get that."