Opinion
Letter: Power plant is economically and environmentally unsound
To the editor:
In its recent editorial headlined "A lopsided view of Salem Harbor's future," The Salem News indeed presents its lopsided view — once again. We'd like to address just two points.
First, calling health concerns regarding the power plant "overblown," the editorial page ignores reputable sources of information like "Mercury Matters" produced by New Hampshire's Hubbard Brook Foundation (HBF). The report can be found at (www. hubbardbrookfoundation.org).
HBF found that "Local emission sources contribute approximately 65 percent of the mercury deposition in the study area, and nearby coal-fired power plants produce 40 percent of this locally derived mercury deposition." Mercury is not blowing into Salem from somewhere else; it's coming from the power plant and falling in our city. Mercury is contaminating our seafood and making it dangerous to eat. It is wreaking neurological damage on our most vulnerable — children — causing learning disorders.
Second, betting on coal as a "lot cheaper," the editorial ignores the legislative realities already in place for the near future. While coal may be cheap in financial terms today, the spot prices are rising. Costs to operate a coal plant will escalate because of the state's new Global Warming Solutions Act, which requires reductions of greenhouse gas emissions by 10 percent to 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2020, and by 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.
Additionally, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative will force the power plant to pay to pollute by buying pollution credits.
The Salem News ignores evidence about our physical health and encourages Salem to keep betting on a coal-based economic engine from the 19th century for our economic well-being. While www.Visionfor Salem.org may not have perfect vision, at least it has offered Salem one vision of a future free from coal and a dangerous facility that threatens workers and residents.
Caroline Nye
Dolores Jordan
alice Jordan
Patricia A. Gozemba
Karen Kahn
Salem
- Opinion
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Letter: Salem market should only allow local farmers
To the editor:
I truly believed a local farmers' market, which Salem offers to the public on Thursday nights, would feature produce grown by our local, North Shore farmers, which I truly support.
I have been attending weekly the Salem Farmers' Market and have been extremely disappointed to see so many vendors with produce that looks like it comes off the produce shelf at one of our many supermarkets or might have been imported from God knows where. -
Nelson Benton: Some disappointed with Tierney stance on Israeli raid
Congressman John Tierney has ruffled feathers within the Jewish community locally with criticism of Israel for its May 31 attack on a Gaza-bound Turkish aid flotilla that left nine people dead.
The Salem Democrat has traditionally enjoyed broad support among Jewish voters in the district, but his failure to stand behind Israel on this particular matter has some resentful. -
Letter: Unique piece of church architecture threatened by wrecker's ball
To the editor:
After reading the recent front-page story headlined, "Court refuses to hear appeal over housing in church," I became very frustrated.
I believe the Boston Archdiocese and its contracting firm, the Planning Office of Urban Affairs, have once again caused much concern for artists whose main interests are focused upon preserving our ecclesiastical architecture in this historic city. -
Our View: SJC ruling could make for more work this winter
To the extent that it prevents property owners from evading responsibility for failing to take reasonable precautions following a snow or ice storm, this week's Supreme Judicial Court decision upholding a Peabody man's right to sue a chain department store in Danvers was a good thing. But given the legal minefield it creates, the ruling could also be a nightmare for businesses and homeowners.
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Our View: Race to the Top — Much effort, scant reward
There's something unseemly, and even a little unsettling, about this "Race to the Top" the White House has been conducting.
Having been spurned once before, Massachusetts is again a "finalist" in the competition, which promises millions of dollars in additional aid for the commonwealth's schools. - Letter: Another cause for concern
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Letter: Salem market should only allow local farmers
