BROCKTON —State Rep. Christine Canavan is sponsoring a bill that would prevent future power plants from being built within one mile of a home.
Speaking before the state Legislature’s Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy, Canavan, D-Brockton, joined Rep. Bill Greene, D-Billerica, to speak in strong support of two bills:
The first, S.1544, would prohibit the future siting of power plants within one mile of a residence.
The second, S.1545, would require that proposed power plants get the same local approvals from communities within a 6-mile radius as they currently do from a host community.
Both bills have been sponsored by Sen. Susan Tucker, D-Andover, in the current legislative session and co-sponsored by Canavan, Greene and a number of their colleagues.
“It is not my intention to testify today against the construction of the proposed Brockton power plant. I’ve already done that numerous times,” Canavan said in her testimony, provided by her office in a press release.
“But I’m here to speak on behalf of these two bills, using the lessons learned representing my neighbors and constituents who have opposed and are fearful of a fossil-fueled power plant literally in their backyard.”
At the hearing, Canavan discussed the siting process for Swiss company Advanced Power’s proposed 350-megawatt power plant. She noted that there has been widespread concern among Brockton and West Bridgewater residents about the risks of putting a power plant within close proximity to homes, schools, a senior housing complex and several day care centers.
She argued that these two provisions would have gone a long way in protecting her constituents and area communities from such risks.
