1. The Salem Harbor Power Generation Station is a nearly 60 year- old power plant that burns oil and coal. The lifespan for this type of electricity-generating power plant--as stated by its own industry--is thirty years old.
2. A plant thirteen years younger in Boston was closed not long ago, cited as obsolete.
3. In November of 2007, three workers were killed at the plant from a boiler accident when a weld gave way and the men were engulfed in steam and ash; subsequently the plant was closed for approximately six months.
4. During the time that the plant was offline, there were no electricity interruptions or urges for conservation due to the plant's lack of electricity contribution.
5. After investigating, OSHA, the federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration, cited Dominion Energy New England for ten serious violations, and fined the company for failure to protect its employees. According to OSHA, Dominion is in the process of contesting.
6. Approximately 147 people currently work at the plant. About 30% are Salem residents.
7. Revenue from the power plant has been on a downward trend since 1997. In 1997 the plant paid 8.9 million. In 2008, the plant paid 3.75 million dollars in taxes to Salem (plus 1.25 million they are calling a "host site fee," refusing to call it taxes, insisting that it would not be included in any payments for 2009).
8. Salem single-family homeowners pay 90% more than what they paid in taxes in 1997.
9. According to Dominion's website, the company's operating revenue in 2007 was nearly 16 billion dollars, with a pre-tax profit of 4.5 billion.
10. Nearly three years after the fatalities, Dominion has not yet settled with the families of the three employees.
A vision for Salem is a vision for Massachusetts. Healthier forms of energy generation are available. When will Massachusetts step up to the plate?