The Brockton Post
BROCKTON--Mayor James Harrington has announced he is prepared to file an appeal to the state Supreme Judicial Court if the state Siting Board issues a final decision that approves a proposed natural gas powered electric plant.
The Siting Board issued a draft decision last week that is expected to be approved July 30 that would allow the plant to be constructed.
“Unlike many others who jumped on the stop the power caravan because it was politically popular to do so, I researched and made a fact based educated decision to oppose this gas-diesel fired electricity producing plant,” said Harrington in a prepared statement.
“This plant is not the type of economic development that the City of Champions is looking for, and is something that I can not allow to be forced down the proverbial throat of our residents. It does not matter how long and, or how difficult this fight is, I am prepared to fight it for the future of our city and the well-being of her citizens," he said in the statement.
Harrington could not be reached for further comment.
The mayor emphasized the appropriate channel for the city to object a decision by the Siting Board would be through an appeal to the Supreme Judicial Court.
Based on the draft decision, the city would have several legal grounds for such an appeal, including the principle of environmental justice.
The power plant is proposed for a section of the city's south side. Residents in Brockton, the Bridgewaters and other surrounding towns have rallied against the project saying it would create an environmental hazard.
Supporters have said the project would bring construction jobs to the area for the next two years and add millions to the city's tax base.
During hearings at the Siting Board last summer, the city put forth an argument of first impression, providing the Siting Board with an opportunity to determine whether environmental justice is relevant to the construction of power plants.
Harrington stated “if it’s not relevant here, it’s not going to be relevant anywhere.” In the Siting Board's draft decision, the board gave little weight to the argument that the project would disproportionately harm disadvantaged, low-income neighborhoods, stating that environmental justice concerns did not affect its underlying analysis.
An appeal to the Supreme Judicial Court must be filed within twenty days of the board’s final decision.
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Thursday, July 9, 2009
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THe Brockton Board of Health along with THe Mayor and most of the City Councilors vigorously oppose any more polluting industries coming to Brockton. They state that Brockton has an astonishing Particulate Matter level (PM2.5) of 30.7 micrograms per cubic foot, a level of 35 would breach Federal Safety standards ,our levels have been going up each year just with the burning of additional sledge from Sewage Treatment Plant,this is without even taking into consideration the added 85 more tons per yeas that would be produced by the proposed power plant.,They suggest that what our City needs is to cut down on its existing pollution and look to the future which is safe clean renewable energy .
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