Concerns in Brockton over proposed power plant

Published 10 February 2010

Residents in Brockton, Massachusetts do not want Advanced Power Services of Boston to build a 350-megawatt plant near their neighborhood; they point to the weekend’s explosion in a power plant in Connecticut as reason for added concern

The explosion at a Connecticut power plant over the weekend has renewed concern in Brockton, Massachusetts. Protesters are trying to block the construction of a similar plant. Opponents of the 350-megawatt plant will testify before a House committee that is considering banning the project.

The plant was proposed by Advanced Power Services of Boston, and it would be in a residential area within a mile of an elementary school. A spokesperson from Advanced Power Services says it is unfair to compare this plant to the one in Middletown, Connecticut.

A Statement from Brockton Power:

We understand and share the deep concern about the tragic accident in Middletown, Connecticut and the questions about what this may mean for the construction of a similar natural gas plant in Brockton. We have taken these concerns to heart.

 

…We will not begin construction until we know from the investigators in Connecticut what occurred in Middletown, and have determined how we can prevent such an incident from occurring in any plant we build. Accordingly, we will report to the state our findings and how we will protect our workers and our neighbors in Brockton. We will share those finding with all of you. The men and women who build these plants and the residents of Brockton deserve nothing less.

We would ask that legislators, city councilors, plant neighbors and the mayor give us the opportunity to do this fact finding, to determine how best to build a plant with the absolute minimum chance of accident, and to bring those findings to all of you.

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