Salem Power Plant
Built in 1952 on 65 acres of waterfront land, the Salem Power Plant (Salem Harbor Station) employed about 150 people and
provided electricity to about 750,000 homes a year through mostly burning coal.
In 2008, they were paying about $4.75 million in taxes and other revenue to the city of Salem.
On Nov. 6, 2007, three men were badly burned when a rupture on coal Boiler No. 3 led to a burst of 600 degree steam directly at the men. The men died later at a Boston hospital from their burns.
The state shut down the plant for several months and OSHA found 10 violations at the plant and fined Dominion $46,800.
In 2004, the state ordered the plants then-owner USGen New England to invest in infrastructure equipment to reduce emissions.
Two environmental groups opposing the power plant over the years were HealthLink and stoptheplantnow.org.
The coal fired plant was closed in 2014, making way for a new cleaner energy in gas. Footprint Power purchased the plant with plans to clean it up the land and open a new plant by 2017.
When the new plant is completed, there will be a remaining portion of the site, including a 25 acre waterfront that will be redeveloped at a later time, likely for commercial and/or industrial use.
Footprint began generating electricity on May 31, 2018.
See Also
Vertical File in Salem Collection - Power Plant (pt. 1 & 2)
Vertical File in Salem Collection - Footprint Power
"City, plant strike deal" Salem News, Dec. 4th, 2008, p. 9
"Power struggle: Environmental groups lobby to close Salem Harbor plant, but mayor stresses the need for $4.75 m in taxes, revenue" Boston Globe, Nov. 6, 2008, p. N1
"Power plant's final hours; looking back, ahead on Salem Harbor Station's last day of operation" Salem News, May 31, 2014, p. 1
"Faces of the power plant" Salem News, May 28, 2014, p. 1
"It's been a long time coming; Salem Harbor Station demolition begins" Salem News, July 31, 2014, p. 1
"Busy year for Footprint as project wraps up; new power plant still on track for summer opening" Salem News, Jan. 9, 2017, p. 1
"Salem Power Plant online; Footprint now generating electricity for the grid" Salem News, May 31, 2018, p. 1
