A coalition of environmentalists, community activists, residents and public officials spanning both sides of the Chelsea Creek has unified in opposition to Eversource’s proposal to construct a substation at the City Yards in East Boston near the Chelsea Creek.
The state’s Energy Facility Siting Board (EFSB) convened a public meeting Tuesday evening in East Boston to address Eversource’s Notice of Project Change. This filing would relocate the proposed substation from the eastern corner of the City Yards at East Eagle Square to the western corner. Previously, the EFSB had approved the original eastern location on the city-owned parcel.
Through its Notice of Project Change, Eversource is requesting authorization to move Substation 190 feet westward on the City Yards parcel. The meeting’s scope is restricted to examining this proposed relocation—moving the substation from the eastern side of the municipal property to the new western location.
According to Eversource, positioning the substation on the western portion would mean the two 115-kV transmission lines connecting to it would no longer traverse Condor and East Eagle Streets.
Environmental groups representing both Eastie and Chelsea have urged the EFSB to consider other options rather than siting the substation along the Chelsea Creek.
For the past two years, local environmental advocates on both the East Boston and Chelsea sides have conducted visual campaigns, media outreach and public dialogue opposing Eversource’s plan to place the facility at City Yards in Eagle Square.
Chelsea City Council President Damali Vidot testified against the proposal at the Tuesday evening proceeding.
“I’m here tonight to express my opposition,” said Vidot. “Although I represent Chelsea, a community of 40,000 low income,
hardworking immigrants and people of color who are always the afterthoughts of
corporate greed and irresponsible planning, I am here today as an ally with my
brothers and sisters of the Eagle Hill East Boston neighborhood whose
demographics are reminiscent of home. Planes, a salt bile, fuel and now a high
voltage electrical substation–I am tired of communities like Chelsea and East
Boston forced to bear the burden of environmental injustice at the hands of
greedy corporations. We are environmental justice communities and the civic
engagement in this neighborhood, or lack thereof, is a blatant disregard and
inconsideration of the densely populated areas of hardworking men and women
forced to bear the environmental ignorance of others for the sake of protecting
profits.”
An independent assessment became central to Vidot’s call, specifically to determine whether a substation is necessary locally and, if required, whether placing it in a flood-prone area vulnerable to climate impacts and rising seas makes sense.
U.S. Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, representing both East Boston and Chelsea, submitted video testimony recorded from her Washington D.C. office.
“I’m your sister in solidarity,” said Pressley. “This at its best is boor urban planning and at its worst and
injustice. It is unconscionable that a community already overburdened with
environmental injustices would be put in harm’s way and have those existing
health hazards exacerbated. The community should be a part of planning and I
know when we organize we win and this is a fight like so many others we are
taking on and I stand with you.”
Last year’s EFSB decision approved the City Yards location, though conditions accompanied the ruling. The board’s vote endorsed both the substation and 115 kV underground cables across East Boston, Chelsea and Everett, subject to specific requirements. Eversource was directed by the EFSB to engage Boston in discussions concerning potential relocation of the substation and associated Chelsea Creek cables.
Environmental burden already weighs heavily on these neighboring communities, argues East Boston resident and Greenroots Chelsea activist John Walkey. Proximity to Logan International Airport, major highways and jet fuel storage tanks along the Chelsea Creek creates compounding risks, he contends, and the substation project would intensify this exposure.
Alternative sites warrant serious consideration by the EFSB in Walkey’s assessment.
“If only there was a place in East Boston
with restricted access that would a more appropriate location. Maybe a place
that already had millions of dollars invested in raising the ground level so it
is more flood resilient. Maybe a place that already much more secure with state
police oversight and very limited access. Maybe a place that takes up over a
third of the land mass in East Boston. And just maybe a place that is going to
be a consumer of over half the electricity that goes through the substation
anyway. Obviously the (Logan) Airport is a far more logical place,” said Walkey.
The EFSB required Eversource to report back before construction begins, documenting progress on discussions involving the company, Boston and residents. This timeline has created an opportunity to identify and evaluate alternative substation locations. Originally, Eversource planned to build on a Bremen Street property it owned. During former Mayor Thomas Menino’s tenure, Boston negotiated a land exchange with Eversource, transferring the Bremen Street parcel to the city for the new East Boston Branch Library while receiving the city-owned East Eagle Square parcel in return.