How to Save a Planet The Witch of Wind
Aug 20, 2020
Local politician Pat Haddad, Queen of Coal, shares how Somerset, MA transitioned from coal to offshore wind. Industry expert Jeff Grybowski discusses the potential of offshore wind power. The podcast explores the challenges faced in the transition and the opportunities for clean energy in the U.S.
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Queen Of Coal Faced With Collapse
- Pat Haddad grew up in Somerset and called herself the 'queen of coal' because the plant funded schools and services.
- When Brayton Point closed in 2017 she said she was "completely panicked" about the town's lost tax revenue.
Mechanic Witnesses Coal Decline
- Ted Wheeler worked as a mechanic at Brayton Point and ran tours telling kids they used coal for breakfast.
- He saw the plant go idle as fracked gas undercut coal and units were taken off the schedule.
Fracking Undercut Coal Quickly
- The fracking boom made natural gas far cheaper and more efficient than coal, undercutting coal plants overnight.
- That price and efficiency shift drove coal plants into rapid retirement across the U.S.