Source: Salem News (MA), September 19, 2012
Posted on: http://envfpn.advisen.com
Salem and Peabody will receive a total of $250,000 from the settlement of an air pollution lawsuit brought against Dominion by two environmental groups, the Conservation Law Foundation and HealthLink.
Salem will receive the bulk of the funds, or $225,000, most of which will go toward energy efficiency projects at its planned senior center.
“We’re grateful for it,” said Mayor Kim Driscoll. “It will offset costs we would otherwise have to fund ourselves. … It’s also an opportunity for the city to save funds long term.”
Peabody will use the money to install new lighting at Peabody High School.
The money is part of the settlement of a 2010 federal lawsuit the two environmental groups filed against Dominion, the former owner of Salem Harbor Station, the city’s coal and oil-burning power plant.
The suit charged Dominion with violating the Clean Air Act nearly 300 times between 2005 and 2009.
The lawsuit contended Dominion had exceeded its “opacity” limits, or the density of the gas stream coming from the plant’s smokestacks. Opacity is an indicator of the amount of small particles of metal and other hazardous materials in the air, which have been linked to lung and heart disease.
“Compared to the actual monetary damage such pollution causes, this is a pittance,” Martha Dansdill, executive director of Swampscott-based HealthLink, said in a statement. “However, we are pleased to be part of this effort to force some positive outcomes from years of enduring these unhealthy emissions.”
While agreeing to the settlement, Dominion admitted no wrongdoing.
The settlement was announced in February. HealthLink issued a press release yesterday with details of the awards.
The funds for Salem will be used for “state-of the-art” plumbing, electrical, and photovoltaic installations at the senior center the city plans to build at the corner of Bridge and Boston streets. In addition, the city will purchase two hybrid vehicles.
Peabody will install 450 new light fixtures at Peabody High.
Peabody Mayor Edward Bettencourt said the city “will save thousands of dollars each year on energy costs with the new equipment,” according to the release.
Lynn also will receive $25,000, which it will use for energy-saving lighting and motion detectors at city schools.
The settlement also stipulates that coal can’t be burned at the site after June 2014, the date for the current operation to shut down.