I won't miss the plant--except for that aspect. That plant has been a landmark for many, many years, an iconic landmark even. I flew to Cincinnati on a business trip years ago and I was delighted when our plane took the northern track to Logan--right over the plant!

I used to love standing in the middle of the (new) Beverly-Salem Bridge with my camera overlooking the plant.

It will be missed.

Hey Bill I know you and we were brought up in the nieghborhood. Roger needs to get a life. This whole project is a great thing for Salem and this area.

Years ago "learning to fly" those stacks were a dead reckoning point for me. Taking down those stacks may be a bit confusing to student flyers and cause changes to maps. The stacks re-assured me to where I should "not" fly, so I didn't accidentally end up in Logan airports airspace. Those stacks are historical as well.

You are being extremely melodramatic and negative about someone else investing millions of dollars in the City which will lead to vast improvements to the amount of toxins released from a place that now burns coal and oil sludge. Not to mention opening up what is now the vast coal storage area for a waterfront park. Are you one of the guys who went to the meeting and wanted to know why they couldn't get the same power output with turbines and solar panels?

You didn't offend me. It is just that Salem is now getting rid of a dinosour and getting a great park, cruises and seaport, and tree's , landscaping, and oh I forgot , a better cleaner power plant.All for free! This is much better for the young one's who will inherit it when we pass away.

Hey Roger, the toxins in the air is only one of the down falls. That land might be loaded with fly-ash. The Salem plant, back in the 50s contaminated both sides of Henderson rd (alias, Airport road) in Beverly. The contamination was less than 2000ft from our water supply and a small river ran through it, that lead directly into the Wenham lake. Because of the fly-ash our power plant dumped there, the property had high considerations of arsenic and cyanide in both the drill test sites and top soil. So i do believe that property our power plant is going to be a nightmare!

Carolyn, the toxins in the are will be eliminated,the land will be cleaned,the coal pile will be gone and even if there is fly ash at least we will not be producing it anymore. Looking back in time is not productive. Years ago you could spray waist oil on dusty areas to stop the dust because the theory was we were putting it back where it came from. In my opinion we have moved past the enviromental concerns because there is no question this is a cleaner ,tax generating, plant. Salem power plant has been the biggest tax payer in Salem for years. We can't have everything. We need a strong commercial tax base because Salem is turning into a low income,high crime homeless center. This is the best possible thing that we could hope for at that site and ,as a homeowner, I feel much better thinking it will happen.

John, are you joking? The land in Beverly that the Salem plant contaminated was 30 feet deep and ended up having to be capped with 4 feet deep of clay! I believe the power plant was dumping on that land in Salem before they started carting it to Beverly and other sites. Arsenic and cyanide are only 2 of hundreds of chemicals that Fly-ash breaks down into. I read every test result out of the Beverly site and worked on the environmental issues for over ten years over there "so i do know what I am talking about." The power plant might have the fly-ash just as deep as the Beverly site " that took decades" to resolve the issues and capping etc. So this is not just getting out a broom and planting the daisies!

Caroyln, let me try another approach. First we are not talking about Beverly.Secondly I understand your concern but if you look back at what could happen to that area ,I don't know how you can not support this plant.Dominion had the opportunity to close the plant ,lock the gate and leave town.No clean up at all. Would you support that? I have already addressed thae fact that we have learned from past mistakes.Remmember when Peabody was the leather capital? They moved on and so should Salem.

My family has lived a stones throw from the Power plant since 1920 and never had any of the problems everyone is talking about. Only once did we get ash maybe 20 yrs ago. We have 5 generations here and no health related problems. This whole project is going to beautify the whole aera.

Right on John. Roger is worried that his tomatoes and cucumbers won't grow due to lack of fertalizer from the coal ash.

You might not have problem now "the site is covered in grass. God help when they go digging it up?? I should hope that residents will have easy access to tests of the soil on that site and not have to go through the freedom of information act to get them. My point of mentioning Beverly to the John on here , was that "They may have" dumped on the Salem land before "having to" cart the ash to other sites and that the Beverly sites were 30 feet deep. How deep is it, at the Salem power plant? I think that land is another nightmare like Beverly was.

I get your point but you offer no alternative. The site is actually covered by the plant and the unused tank farm that will both be removed. Today much of the Beverly land has been developed,so tell me what your option for the Salem land is?

Did Carolyn watch the whole presentation? I wonder. I think it's amazing and a great oppertunity for us in Salem. Beverly misses out on this. They can't even figure out what to do with the old McDonalds at the bridge for how many yrs now?

I am not against change John, i am just saying that , that land is a potential nightmare. It's a wait and see game. I have a family member living near the plant so I do worry a bit about its future. With gas? There is a bigger risk to the people living near there if there is accidents like we been seeing with "Gas" over the years. People also forget that at one point in the past, our power plant was on a potential terrorist list. With gas there, it just makes it easier to target than coal I would think. So yes, I have a few concerns. PS there is "nothing" built on the capped site in Beverly , the development is further down the road.

I didn't watch the presentation but I have followed this topic closely and it really comes down to simple common sense.

Yeahhhh It's about time someone said it to Bob. I call him the "One name wonder!"

I may be wrong but I think I know you and was just trashing to get you going thinking you would figure out who I was.. As for Carolyn, I told her once, she is a great trash talker for Fantasy Football.

OH' Bob, I know you love me! But your just not my type! I tell it like it is and you trash talk everyone.

Fantasy Football is over till next year. I guess I miss it. This keeps me in practice I guess.

They could at least humor people and put a creative looking building, like in the shape of the "Salem witch" or something. The picture above is ugly , plain, without character. Thousands of tourist will see this site on the way to winter island or the Willows. I just think if they are going to move forward into the future they could at least add something fitting with the historical aspects of Salem. That pictured building , is ugly.

I heard the same thing from my father years back. "He also worked there when it was "I believe" Parker brothers.

Roger, nice try but I don't think he will give it and if he does? It's probably a fake name.

Invite me.

Right on brother!!