[SEMCO] 350MA Climate Action - 2/8 MA DEP Hearing: Canal Station Modernization Project

[Chris Powicki]

Local 350MA Group Encourages Comment at 2/8 Hearing in Sandwich Addressing
"Canal Station Modernization Project"

The Canal Electric Generating Station in Sandwich is in the midst of a
modernization project <http://canalnewgeneration.com/>  that will add a
1.5-MW solar array and new 350-MW combustion turbine to its two aging
boilers, which are largely fueled by oil. On Wednesday February 8 at 7 pm at
the Sandwich Town Hall, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP) will hold a public hearing addressing air emissions from
the new gas-fired unit, which will cast a large carbon shadow for decades.

350MA-Cape Cod, rejuvenated by recent events, encourages local citizens to
attend the DEP hearing and register their opinions on the new unit, which
will rely on fracked gas and is projected to result in almost 1 million tons
of additional onsite CO2e emissions annually starting in 2019. This total
does not account for methane leakage during the fracking process - fugitive
emissions that according to recent studies put natural gas almost on par
with coal, in terms of life-cycle impacts.

The state is not projected to achieve its statutory goal of cutting
greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2020, but this major new source of
emissions has already been approved under the Massachusetts Environmental
Policy Act and by the Cape Cod Commission. The Commission's decision, which
did not consider where the fuel is coming from, nor how much greenhouse gas
emissions will be produced, is available here
<http://www.capecodcommission.org/resources/regulatory/DRIdecisions/2016/EIR
-DRI15016%20Canal%20Unit%203%20Dec%2012-1-16.pdf> . The Town of Sandwich has
signed on as an enthusiastic supporter, with skids greased by more than $50M
in payments promised by the power plant's owner over the next 20-plus years.

Contact: Grace Barter, 350MA-Cape Cod, gracembarter13 at gmail.com


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