Newton wellesley hospital - Is this a healthy choice?

Newton-Wellesley Hospital has plans for a new cogeneration power plant in our community that will will result in more gas leaks, smoke stacks putting out more dangerous particulate matter, and throwing any chance of greenhouse gas reduction commitments to the curb. However, there is still an opportunity to raise questions and concerns about how it will affect our lives—especially our health and our property values. 
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The planned power plant is alarming because:

• The two natural gas-powered turbines will emit 25% more particulate matter than all of Newton-Wellesley Hospital currently emits. Particulate pollution has been linked to a host of health problems like cancer and cardiovascular disease, and increased hospital emergency room visits and premature deaths. Even when particulate pollution is well below EPA limits, new research shows that it shortens people’s lifespans and causes kidney disease, hypertension, and dementia.
  
  
• The power plant will also emit >250% more oxides of nitrogen (NOx) than current levels—a higher average amount than Massachusetts once allowed for old coal-fired power plants, and one that increases the chances of hazardous ground-level ozone that could be the equivalent of smoking a pack a day of cigarettes.
  
  
• No community impact study has been done on the air or noise pollution these plants would emit in our own neighborhood. In a recent Waban Area Council meeting on December 12, 2019, Newton-Wellesley Hospital representatives acknowledged this.
  
  
• Within two miles of Newton-Wellesley Hospital—not a long distance for pollution to travel—are eight elementary schools (Angier, Zervas, Burr, Williams, Peirce, Schofield, Fiske & St. Bernard Elementary School), many preschools and countless homes with young families. “Children face special risks from air pollution because their lungs are growing and because they are so active and breathe in a great deal of air,” according to the American Lung Association, which also notes that air pollution can have negative effects to a baby even in the womb. Children are at a higher risk of developing asthma and respiratory infections, among other illnesses.
  
  
• In a Waban Area Council meeting on December 12, 2019, Newton-Wellesley Hospital representatives acknowledged that, with their new power plants, emissions would increase.
  
  

There is still time for the hospital to modify its plans to a lower-polluting alternative. Other Partners facilities have installed much cleaner power plants that would still allow Newton-Wellesley Hospital to meet their safety and reliability needs.  

WHAT CAN YOU DO? 

• Write to Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller (rfuller@newtonma.gov) to express your concern about Newton-Wellesley’s plans and stop the permitting process until we have more data and information about how these power plants will impact our community. We also recommend CCing the Newton City Councilors (citycouncil@newtonma.gov).
  
  
• Share your concerns with your friends and neighbors, with your school’s PTO, and on social media to raise awareness about the hospital’s plans. 
  
  
• Join a community task force who's goal is to efficiently and effectively gather/share information, strategize, and ultimately produce the results the community wants with respect to the power plant in our residential neighborhood.  A meeting is set for Tuesday, February 18th, at 8 pm.  Email info@sustainablewellesley.com for location details.  

The goal is to get them to immediately pause the plans from proceeding so that the community may have appropriate input. Their actions affect our community. They provide a valuable service to the community, but we would ask them to consider us and our health before moving forward.