Hundreds protest against proposed Salem gas plantFeb 8 - Tom Dalton The Salem News, Beverly, Mass.
About 400 demonstrators from across the state turned out today to protest plans to build a natural gas power plant on the Salem waterfront. Carrying banners, home-made signs and even small wind turbines made of PVC pipe, the protesters marched from Salem Common to Salem Harbor Station, the coal and oil-fired power plant slated to close at the end of May. The plant owners have filed plans to open an $800 million natural gas plant in 2016,, a proposal currently facing a legal challenge from an environmental group. The demonstrators came to Salem to send a message to Gov. Deval Patrick to stop construction of a fossil fuel plant they feel will contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and fail to comply with the state's 2008 Global Warming Solutions Act. Sue Kirby of Salem, one of the organizers, called the gas plant a "short-sighted energy investment." Today's peaceful protest drew about 50 counter-protesters, largely Salem residents who support plans to build a natural gas plant, which they consider a practical solution to energy needs and a bridge to a time when the state can rely more on renewable energy and other measures. Tom Dalton can be reached at tdalton@salemnews.com. For more on this story, see Monday's Salem News. http://www.energycentral.com/functional/news/news_detail.cfm?did=31468463& |