Although a topic of ongoing controversy in past decades, the issue of power plants amongst our group members is one of no dispute: Power plants cause pollution that is incredibly harmful to both our environment and ourselves. We unanimously agree on clean energy solutions that honor environmental and public health, while still being a better economic choice, compared to the run-down coal plant, such as Dominion's Salem Harbor Station in Salem, MA (read more about that here...) . As concern for stricter federal regulations increases and the well-being of both present and future generations is considered, the role of power plants is changing. Pressure to adhere to environmental standards is becoming too costly for power plants, especially when combined with the falling profit. Power plants may be a dying breed of business, but many of them are still killing our planet. The facts are alarming. Agencies like Independent System Operator New England (ISO-NE) and Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) work with city Board of Health officials in partnership with the Executive Office of Public Safety (state level) and US Environmental Protection Agency (federal) to better support policies, such as the MA Green Communities Act that will mandate safer and both cost and health efficient energy sources. Deval Patrick, Governor of Massachusetts, set regulations in 2007 that allow power plants to pollute based on permit allowances. National regulations do exist for power plants. These are however, guidelines that state lawmakers and governors use to pass their own regulations. many different branches of the Massachusetts government take part in regulations, from the Governor to the Mass department of environmental protection. As we move through our investigation, we will learn more about these regulation and share them with you here.
As we work as a group to more closely examine this environmental issue, explore clean energy solutions, and discover how to delivery that important lesson to students, please feel free to check in with our blog and track our progress and evolving perspectives...
Kyle:
I have been a Salem resident nearly my whole life. I show tremendous concern for my own health as well as the health of others. These concerns have intensified over the last five years. The power plant in Salem is not only an eye sore for our gorgeous city, it is a cause of enormous health risks. Salem's power plant main fuel source is black coal. Mountains of this black fossil fuel is visible from the water in Salem Harbor and guess what? The coal that is visible from the water is the same particles the city's residents, including myself, have been inhaling for years. Inhaling smog from coal-burning stacks can only be dangerous and provide health effects. This, coupled with an on-site explosion a few years back all but solidifies the need to close the power plant. I am a firm advocate that Salem's power plant must be shut down and replaced with a better alternative. With today's technology, there are options for alternative energy sources. I just hope within my lifetime that I see this power plant closed.
Ashley - Fortunately, I agree with the rest of my group members who also feel that power plants are no longer an efficient source of power and instead, are a main source of pollution and health issues for residents around the plants. Unfortunately, owners of power plants and even some government officials are resistant to agree with us. They way I see it -- I do not want to go to the beach and breathe in anything and everything the Salem Power Plant has to offer my lungs. I do not even want to see it when I take the otherwise picturesque drive to Salem Sate University. However, more importantly than any of that, I worry about the long term effects of these pollutants. Will these plants still be around when my kids are growing up? And if they are no longer in business, will their lasting pollutant effects still threaten the health of future generations? I look forward to investigating the environmental problem and being part of a social action toward a solution.
Brad - Nuclear power and pollution are all outdated. Unfortunately, for the time being we are living in the past. The regulations set into motion by governor Deval Patrick do little to control pollution, only allocate it. There is a severe health risk to breathing in the pollution often associated with these power plants,s my fellow group members have expressed. An infrastructure as intricate as the United State’s is to complex to shut power plants down ‘cold turkey’ as the expression goes. We must begin a process to wean the country off of this outdated energy. This must start at the top and trickle down, regulations must be set to reduce emissions and strategically close and replace power plants with cleaner energy. We all look to a brighter, clearer future where we are no longer dependant on nuclear power. The simple fact is that if we ever want to achieve this goal, we must take action now. For there to be change, there must be a catalyst.
Ashley - Fortunately, I agree with the rest of my group members who also feel that power plants are no longer an efficient source of power and instead, are a main source of pollution and health issues for residents around the plants. Unfortunately, owners of power plants and even some government officials are resistant to agree with us. They way I see it -- I do not want to go to the beach and breathe in anything and everything the Salem Power Plant has to offer my lungs. I do not even want to see it when I take the otherwise picturesque drive to Salem Sate University. However, more importantly than any of that, I worry about the long term effects of these pollutants. Will these plants still be around when my kids are growing up? And if they are no longer in business, will their lasting pollutant effects still threaten the health of future generations? I look forward to investigating the environmental problem and being part of a social action toward a solution.
Brad - Nuclear power and pollution are all outdated. Unfortunately, for the time being we are living in the past. The regulations set into motion by governor Deval Patrick do little to control pollution, only allocate it. There is a severe health risk to breathing in the pollution often associated with these power plants,s my fellow group members have expressed. An infrastructure as intricate as the United State’s is to complex to shut power plants down ‘cold turkey’ as the expression goes. We must begin a process to wean the country off of this outdated energy. This must start at the top and trickle down, regulations must be set to reduce emissions and strategically close and replace power plants with cleaner energy. We all look to a brighter, clearer future where we are no longer dependant on nuclear power. The simple fact is that if we ever want to achieve this goal, we must take action now. For there to be change, there must be a catalyst.
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