Washington (February 22, 2021) – Senator Edward J. Markey
(D-Mass.), a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, released the
following statement after the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board
(EFSB) voted today to approve the construction of an electrical substation
in East Boston.
“The East Boston and Chelsea communities are already in
crisis, victim to not just the worst health impacts of the
coronavirus crisis, but also to decades of poor air quality and
asthma diagnoses. These communities deserve even greater
consideration of their safety, their quality of life, and their future—not to
have their opposition dismissed and ignored. I am extremely
disappointed to hear that the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board
(EFSB) is moving forward with construction plans of the East Boston electric
substation, which poses a threat to the safety and wellbeing of East
Boston and Chelsea residents. The EFSB ignored the process and
substance concerns of hundreds of community members and
advocates, in yet another example of the injustices that continue to
plague this community and a dereliction of our responsibility to correct
these historic wrongs. We need to consider justice, safety, and
the need for these facilities within a green energy economy, not just in East
Boston, but everywhere.”
In November 2019, Senator Markey (D-Mass.)
called on the EFSB to reassess its decision to move forward
with the electrical substation. In his letter, Senator Markey cites climate
change impacts and clean energy goals as reasons for reevaluating the location
and need for the substation. This past December, Senator Markey again
urged the EFSB to postpone public hearings about the
proposed Eversource substation until after the coronavirus pandemic.
