Electrical union responds to MAC’s criticisms
By Canton CitizenDear MAC:
I am writing in response to your recent opinion on the solar farm being constructed illegally in Canton. There is absolutely nothing political about any of our mailings, a point that is easily supported by the documentation we have publically provided and that is also found on our website (www.CantonSolarExposed.com). On January 19, the Canton Board of Selectmen was informed in writing that Gemma Power Systems was going to install the solar array in violation of Massachusetts law. The IBEW provided Canton’s board with documents supporting this fact in the form of a 2009 Massachusetts State Board of Examiners ruling on the matter, but the selectmen chose to do nothing about it.
The electrical contract for this project was, in fact, not awarded until after the IBEW expressed its public safety concerns to Canton, and after electrical work had begun illegally on the site without a permit. Both of these facts provide additional proof that this is not a union issue — at least it wasn’t until John Connolly and the Board of Selectmen decided to make it one. Further support for this being solely a public safety issue is found in a letter to this newspaper by several non-union associations (“Electrical groups weigh in on solar dispute”) documenting their safety concerns, as well as applicable Massachusetts law — a fact you and the board have conveniently chosen to ignore in favor of an easy, albeit predictable, “union rhetoric” mantra. The IBEW stands behind all of its assertions and has always sought accuracy in its communications. To this end, Canton selectmen were given several opportunities prior to our mailings to review and describe any inaccuracies in our assertion of the facts; none have ever been documented.
The truth is that as of today, neither Southern Sky Renewable Energy nor Gemma Power Systems has ever completed a landfill solar array like this — never. A lack of photovoltaic experience that didn’t seem to concern the Board of Selectmen as they eagerly signed a flawed 20-year Lease and Purchase Power Agreement on behalf of Canton’s taxpayers with a newly formed, fledgling company (Southern Sky Renewable Energy, LLC). But more on those agreements in our next mailing …
So MAC, as a result of all this, a landfill solar farm is being constructed illegally on Canton taxpayer property. But not to worry, the IBEW will not be leaving Canton until Massachusetts law is enforced by its board. And although the selectmen may not feel a responsibility to enforce state safety regulations on taxpayer land, the IBEW is confident that Canton’s voters see it quite differently; they expect their board to do its job, and if not, it will become political — the politics of electing a more capable board.
Sean Callaghan
Business Agent, Local 103 IBEW
Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=12835
Posted by Canton Citizen
on Apr 11 2012. Filed under From One Citizen to Another, Opinion.
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