This is regarding the article “Power plants needed, but where should they be put?” on June 25. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has a rigorous and well-thought out power plant siting program that should not be subject to legislators whose expertise is not in energy facility siting, but in supporting “Not-In-My-Back-Yard” activists in their communities.
It’s one thing to oppose a power plant based on facts that would demonstrate its lack of need, inefficiency, environmental detriment, or other hazard. However, it is foolhardy to legislate a blanket requirement that no power plant could be sited within a mile of a school, home, playground, daycare center, church, or area of environmental concern. Such a restriction would likely make few if any plots of land in Massachusetts available for development.
At the very least, this amendment could prevent cities and towns that “would welcome a power plant and the financial benefits it would bring,” as Senator Timilty is quoted, from reaping those benefits. At worst, it could cause our electricity rates to continue to rise and system reliability to weaken because demand exceeds supply and more strain is put on our current aging fleet of power plants.
Electricity is a public right. Without it, life and commerce as would cease to exist as we know it. We all should be grateful to past leaders who had the common sense, foresight and courage to build and develop the electric infrastructure we all now greatly depend on.
We certainly hope the General Court and governor of Massachusetts follow that lead and defeat this amendment. Let us allow the current process of energy facility siting to continue, which requires meeting numerous zoning, environmental, and need-based regulations set forth by agencies whose motives are not political, but to rather to maintain the public good.
