Salem News reporter Chris Cassidy has done it again, making my morning espresso that much more enjoyable. In recent weeks it has been his reporting on pension abuses by the Essex Regional Retirement Board. By the way, the Globe’s Sean Murphy joins the party with his own report on the shady dealings at the ERRB.
Today, Chris has a story that demonstrates the folly of much of the “Go Green” movement. It looks like the administrators at North Shore Community College need some lessons on what “being green” is all about. Maybe they should pay Al Gore to fly in on his private jet and give a talk about living the “Green” lifestyle?
Trees axed for parking at college’s ‘green’ building
DANVERS — North Shore Community College touts its proposed allied health building as a model of green technology, complete with solar panels, wind turbines and rainwater harvesting.
But last week, the college embarked on the construction of its $32 million Health Professions and Student Services Building by clearing an acre of mature, 60-foot trees that neighbors say was a habitat for deer and other wildlife….
College President Wayne Burton said they had to provide more parking to make up for the 300 to 400 spaces that will be lost temporarily during construction. To accommodate students by the time they return in September, crews had to start the parking lot construction right away. Burton said the college went ahead as soon as it consulted with the project’s general contractor rather than wait another year for a window of opportunity.
“We didn’t really get the green light to start the project until a month ago,” Burton said. “I wasn’t trying to withhold information. We just didn’t know the information.”
The green light? Rather unfortunate turn of phrase if you ask me. And the tree clearing was for…. a parking lot? Oh the irony. A “green” project that clears an acre of 60-year old trees to make room for internal combustion engines.
And what did we learn today at North Shore Community College? It ain’t easy being green.