Word: matep
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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Lashman has been saddled with the Medical Area Total Energy Plant--known to those who care as MATEP. Once upon a time, Harvard had a brilliant idea: build the largest co-generation plant in America to provide power for Harvard's medical schools and 13 other area institutions. Back then, they figured it would cost about $40 million. And they counted on large savings in oil that MATEP would pass on to its Harvard affiliates...
...nobody counted on community opposition, or the State Department of Environmental Quality Engineering (DEQE). Together with MATEP--which community representatives invariably refer to as "Harvard"--the trio locked horns in 1977. The community claimed MATEP's proposed diesel engines would spew large amounts of potentially harmful nitrogen dioxide into their backyards...
...DEQE, charged with looking after what's in Massachusetts air, held a very long, very technical and suffocatingly boring set of hearings. After days of testimony, a DEQE hearing officer had heard enough. She ruled against MATEP. Costs for the power plant skyrocketed, and Harvard officials began to sweat...
That was in January 1978. By June 1979, MATEP decided to take another tack. Since the first ruling was unfavorable, it decided to submit a proposal of its own, asking the DEQE to let the diesels be installed, but the DEQE said...
...weeks ago, another DEQE official said yes, but with certain strings attached. Willard R. Pope '63, counsel to the agency, said MATEP could have its diesels, if it promised not to emit more than 200 micrograms of nitrogen dioxide per cubic meter, to shut off the diesels if it exceeded the limit and--crucially--to pay for a backup utility in case the diesels had to be shut...