Salem Offshore Wind Alliance Is Centering Environmental Justice

by Pat Gozemba

Environmental Justice (EJ) is based on the principle that all people have a right to be protected from environmental hazards and to live in and enjoy a clean and healthful environment.  

—Commonwealth of Massachusetts

SAFE led the charge to bring Offshore Wind (OSW) to Salem, recognizing that clean renewable energy is key to the survival of our city and our planet. Our community, having hosted fossil fuel power plants for 75 years, has been plagued by economic, social, health, and environmental inequities as a result. A new day is upon us. The renewable energy revolution, bringing clean energy to our region, must not flourish at the expense of further environmental injustices in Salem. To this end SAFE is leading the effort to achieve an equitable Community Benefits Agreement (CBA).

SAFE is leading the effort to achieve an equitable Community Benefits Agreement.

To assure that this happens, SAFE convened Salem neighborhood associations near the OSW port (Historic Derby Street, Point Neighborhood, Willows, Bridge Street Neck, and Salem Common) and citywide civic and environmental groups (League of Women Voters, Latino Leadership Coalition, Salem Sound Coastwatch). Together we formed the Salem Offshore Wind Alliance (SOWA) to present a united front in negotiating a CBA. The guiding principle of the alliance is to center Environmental Justice in our asks of the wind port developer and the future tenants of the site.

Concerned that the City might go ahead and negotiate a CBA without community input. SAFE published a column in the Salem News, “Salem Deserves a Real Community Benefits Agreement,” in May.  We pointed out that “community” in a CBA means the “community residents” not the city government. The city government, of course, has other mechanisms for bringing benefits to the city, including the tax agreement and the permitting process.

SOWA had a productive meeting with Mayor Dominick Pangallo in June, and has reached out to the City Council members as well. We anticipate another meeting with the Mayor soon. Meanwhile we are carefully monitoring Crowley’s environmental impact reporting at the state level and its submissions to the Planning Board and the Conservation Commission.

SOWA gives full-throated support to the Salem Offshore Wind Terminal project and future renewable energy transition programs that align with environmental justice principles. We believe the need to transition to renewable energy is urgent. But we also believe in the fundamental values of equality and justice and are committed to achieving Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in our community. The transformation of the Salem Harbor Designated Port Area (DPA) should provide equitable access to good-paying, family-supporting jobs and additional economic benefits to our community, particularly our environmental justice neighborhoods. We expect that any and all development in our city will improve the environmental health and public health of Salem and neighboring municipalities.

Pat Gozemba is a founding member and co-chair of SAFE.