The Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Energy Company (MMWEC) has applied for a new Air Permit for their 60 MW peaker plant in Ward 3.
The new permit is “to establish start up and shutdown limits based on continuous compliance tests conducted at the facility.” This change in emission limits would increase nitrogen oxide and particulate start up emissions and decrease volatile organic compounds and carbon monoxide start up emissions. Overall, the changes will decrease the total air emissions of the facility. For that reason, the assessment of existing community conditions and analysis of the cumulative impacts of new or modified sources of air pollution that may affect Environmental Justice (EJ) populations will NOT be required.”
The Peabody Board of Health and Breathe Clean North Shore have previously requested that MMWEC be required by MassDEP to develop an Environmental Impact Report and a comprehensive health impact assessment given the facility’s proximity to EJ populations within four communities residing within one mile of the plant.
“Although the net result will be an overall decrease in emissions, there is still the potential for elevated health impacts, particularly respiratory events.
During the siting process to add MMWEC’s new generator to the two existing PMLP generators at Waters River Station. BCNS and the Peabody Board of Health requested that MMWEC be required by MassDEP to develop an Environmental Impact Report and conduct a Comprehensive Health Assessment (CHIA). Neither of these two assessments were conducted.
Although MMWEC’s application shows that the permitted changes will result in an overall reduction in potential emissions over the course of a single start-up/shut down event as well as over the course of the operating years when operating on its primary fuel source (natural gas), it also shows that there would be a net increase in total potential emissions both on a per cycle and on annual basis when the plant is operating on its backup fuel: diesel oil.
When SP2015A operates on natural gas, start-up emissions of nitric oxide and levels of particulates could increase. When burning diesel oil, start-up emissions of NOx, methane, particulates, S02m and Hs 204 could increase. These pollutants cause health risks, including cancer, birth defects, harm to the nervous system and brain, heart disease, COPD and asthma.
We agree with the Peabody Board of Health that the potential for elevated health impacts, particularly respiratory events, exist during facility start-up events. There is currently no mechanism to be aware of increased risks that may be associated with these start up events.
BCNS and the Peabody Board of Health have repeatedly requested information about whether and when the plant runs and what it is burning – to no avail.
BCNS also recommends the Peabody Board of Health’s safeguards be implemented prior to approving any application that allows, even for a limited period, an increase in emission of pollutants.
1. MMWEC should be required to conduct the Cumulative Impact Analysis described at 310 CMZR 7.02 (14).
2. MMWEC should be required to submit information about its compliance with air quality and other environmental parameters associated with its permit to the Board of Health.
3. MMWEC should be required to regularly share information with the Board of Health about any complaints received regarding emissions, odor, noise, or other environmental concerns, as well as corrective action taken.
4. MMWEC should be required to regularly share information with the Board of Health about any malfunction affecting emissions at the facility,as well as corrective action taken.
5. MMWEC should be required to install and maintain one or more air monitors in the adjacent EJ area that measures particulate levels and whose data is publicly accessible in real time, such as through the Purple Air Monitoring network or some similar public platform, so that the public can monitor local air quality and take individual precautions when relevant.
BCNS requests that MMWEC also provide details on the monitor to be installed at the plant that DEP requested after reviewing comments from the last public hearing (12/14/2?). BCNS has followed up with MMWEC as to the status of the monitor and how the monitor’s results will be published and available but we have not received a final update with details.
A health analysis of the neighborhoods within 2km of the Waters River Power Station was conducted by the BU School of Public Health in 2022 in cooperation with Mass Climate Action Network (MCAN). @ Pollution, People, and Power
plants: Health Burdens in Peabody, MA November 1, 2022
