Comments on EFSB 14-04/D.P.U. 14-153/14-154

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) and 660 residents oppose Eversource's plan to install a high-voltage substation in East Boston. They cite the site's proximity to an 8 million-gallon jet fuel tank and a playground, as well as the risk of chronic inundation by 2100 due to sea level rise. The UCS contends that Eversource has not provided transparent data or a cost-benefit analysis of cleaner, more resilient alternatives, and requests that the Energy Facilities Siting Board withhold approval until these requirements are met.

• The proposed substation site in East Boston is currently prone to flooding and is projected to face chronic inundation by the year 2100 as a result of sea level rise.
• The substation's location presents a significant safety hazard because it is situated approximately 110 meters from an 8 million-gallon jet fuel holding tank and across from a playground in a densely populated area.
• Power substations are identified as serious fire risks that can be triggered by hot weather, lightning, human error, tampering, or animals entering the wiring.
• The Union of Concerned Scientists claims that Eversource has not provided up-to-date or transparent information to justify the project, which is estimated to cost ratepayers nearly $50 million.
• The UCS asserts that there are plausible clean-energy alternatives to the proposed substation that would be more cost-competitive, potentially saving millions of dollars.
• The Union of Concerned Scientists and local organization GreenRoots demand that the Energy Facilities Siting Board require Eversource to provide a cost-benefit analysis of clean energy alternatives and an infrastructure plan for worst-case sea level rise scenarios before making a decision.

APA

García, P. (2019). Comments on EFSB 14-04/D.P.U. 14-153/14-154. Union of Concerned Scientists. https://ucs-documents.s3.amazonaws.com/clean-energy/OpenLetter-Energy-Facilities-Siting-Board.pdf

Chicago

García, Paula. Comments on EFSB 14-04/D.P.U. 14-153/14-154. Union of Concerned Scientists, 2019. https://ucs-documents.s3.amazonaws.com/clean-energy/OpenLetter-Energy-Facilities-Siting-Board.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=García |first1=Paula |title=Comments on EFSB 14-04/D.P.U. 14-153/14-154 |publisher=Union of Concerned Scientists |date=19 December 2019 |url=https://ucs-documents.s3.amazonaws.com/clean-energy/OpenLetter-Energy-Facilities-Siting-Board.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{garca2019comments, author = {García, Paula}, title = {{Comments on EFSB 14-04/D.P.U. 14-153/14-154}}, publisher = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2019}, month = dec, url = {https://ucs-documents.s3.amazonaws.com/clean-energy/OpenLetter-Energy-Facilities-Siting-Board.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }