Since 2021, residents of the North Shore and advocates across the Commonwealth have been leading a statewide effort against Special Project 2015A, also known as the Peabody Peaker, due to the harmful impact that it will have on our climate, our health, and our wallets. Despite our work to stop this unjust, dangerous project, the previous administration failed to show up for its citizens and the planet - in the face of clear evidence of the harm the peaker will perpetuate and viable alternatives to this fossil fuel facility.

Now in 2023, Massachusetts has a new administration committed to prioritizing environmental justice and combating the climate crisis. Therefore, we again are calling for the Massachusetts state government to do its job. We demand that you use your power to:

-- Conduct or support community members and municipal government in conducting a Community Health Impact Assessment (CHIA) so that the impact that Special Project 2015A will have on the already overburdened community of Peabody is understood.
-- Require MMWEC to conduct an environmental impact report (EIR) of this proposal prior to permitting the operation of Project 2015A
-- Close both of the existing oil and gas peaking power plants that are currently in operation at the site of Special Project 2015A, and increase publicly-accessible air quality monitoring at these sites in the meantime.
-- Explore the increased requirements and resources that are needed to ensure that Municipal Light Plants are adequately participating in the Commonwealth’s transition to a clean and just energy future.

While you may not have been responsible for the decisions that enabled this project, the harm that has already been caused must still be addressed. The impacted community members and the entire state are relying on you to do your job: increase the assessment of this project, mitigate the harm that is being caused, and shut down the dirty peaker plants in Peabody.