Salem Alliance for the Environment (SAFE) is a group dedicated to addressing environmental issues through education, advocacy, and community organizing. Our goal is to assure that Salem is a healthy and prosperous place in which to live. To learn more about us, please explore this website. We are planning monthly informational meetings and hope you will watch this page for announcements.
To the editor:
Thank-you columnist Andrea Fox for raising important questions regarding the future of Salem Harbor Station ("Taking a position on the Salem power plant," Lifestyles, Friday, June 19).
We have heard through various sources that Dominion has been experimenting with using alternative fuels such as paper cubes and wood flour.
This suggests that, indeed, Dominion is considering biomass incineration for at least some part of its power generation.
Salem Alliance for the Environment (SAFE) is concerned that our community has not been informed about these plans, nor do we know the ramifications for air quality.
Biomass incineration can include a wide range of potential fuels, from trees to paper to construction and demolition debris. The latter can have highly toxic chemicals associated with it.
This does not sound like the clean-energy solutions we seek.
Burning trees increases the stress on our environment, which is already approaching a climate-change catastrophe. Trees may be renewable, but when we burn them they are releasing carbon rather than capturing it. This is no time to be cutting down our forests.
SAFE would like Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Ian Bowles, along with Dominion, to hold a public forum at which they discuss their plans for biomass incineration — or other alternative fuels — for the Salem Harbor plant. Salem citizens have a right to know what is happening at the plant and how it will impact our air, and ultimately, our health.
Karen Kahn
SAFE board member
Salem
SAFE is actively supporting energy efficiency and support for clean energy choices- please see our current campaigns & "Act Now".
SAFE, along with the City of Salem's Renewable Energy Task Force is promoting residents and businesses to purchase Renewable Energy.
We understand that money is tight- so first take some simple steps that will save you money, then invest that savings in renewable energy- that will take the "pain" out of your wallet while also providing double the benefit when it comes to energy and greenhouse gas contribution.
SAFE, North Shore Colombia Solidarity, HealthLink, and Clean Water Action sponsored a video production for Salem Access TV that was broadcast in Salem on Channel 16. Pat Gozemba produced this show, focused on the corporate practices of Dominion, asking the question, “Does Dominion demonstrate socially, economically, and environmentally, responsible behavior at its coal-burning plants in Salem and Somerset, MA; in Virginia in proposing a new coal plant; and in Colombia where it purchases some of its coal?” For copies of this show, contact info@salemsafe.org
