“Not-in-my-backyard” is the battle cry most often heard from people who want to prevent unsightly projects from appearing in their neighborhoods. Be it an issue of wind turbines, affordable housing, or a noisy bar– we’ve all had a brush with NIMBY in our lives. But what happens when we share a mutual backyard?
The NStar herbicide program to clear vegetation under transmission lines has brought a hidden expense behind our power supply to the fore. Chemicals are being sprayed– literally– in our backyards, from Bourne to Falmouth to Eastham. Towns are scrambling to complete GIS mapping of drinking water supplies and sensitive habitat in areas under these public rights-of-way– but time is running out.
Mutterings of discontent about NStar’s herbicide program erupted into a roar loud enough to reach US Rep. Delahunt in late March. But will NStar listen?
