An Open Letter to the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission

Dear Members of the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission,

As Faith in New Jersey, we write to you from a place of deep concern and moral conviction, urging you to vote ‘no’ on the construction of a new gas-fired power plant in Newark’s East Ward. As representatives of faith communities, we are compelled to speak out against actions that harm our neighbors, particularly the most vulnerable among us. We are also compelled to remind you about the interconnectedness of us all as inhabitants of this planet and that we all have an inherent responsibility to care for our Earth.

Newark, and specifically the Ironbound neighborhood, is already one of New Jersey’s most overburdened communities. The residents here, predominantly immigrants, Black and brown people, have long been exposed to disproportionate levels of industrial pollution. This has resulted in a range of severe health issues, including some of the highest rates of asthma in the state, alongside increased incidences of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. Every day, families live under the weight of these health crises, made worse by three existing fossil fuel power plants and New Jersey’s largest garbage incinerator, among other polluting facilities.

The introduction of another power plant, regardless of its purported clean energy credentials, would only exacerbate these conditions. The proposed plant’s reliance on natural gas and hydrogen raises significant concerns. Hydrogen, while touted as a cleaner alternative, poses safety risks due to its potential to leak and its potential production of nitrous oxide, which is highly explosive. This is not the clean energy solution our community needs or deserves.

Our fight against this plant is part of a broader struggle against environmental racism and the prioritization of profit over people. The residents of the Ironbound have made their stance clear—they do not want or need another source of pollution in their neighborhood. This is not merely a matter of preference but of survival and dignity. They have already endured too much.

In April 2023, New Jersey’s Environmental Justice Law was enacted, empowering the Department of Environmental Protection to reject permits for new facilities that would exacerbate pollution in already overburdened communities. This law was a landmark achievement, reflecting our shared commitment to protecting vulnerable populations from further harm. The proposed power plant directly contradicts the spirit and intent of this law.

Furthermore, historical context underscores the futility of constructing this plant. Eleven years ago, PVSC’s facilities were overwhelmed by Superstorm Sandy. Since then, significant investments have been made to fortify existing infrastructure, ensuring resilience against future storms. PSEG’s $2.1 billion investment in infrastructure hardening has demonstrated the effectiveness of preparing existing facilities rather than building new ones.

We urge you to reflect on the moral and ethical implications of this decision. As stewards of our community’s well-being, it is your duty to prioritize the health and safety of the Ironbound residents over corporate interests. Better, cleaner alternatives exist that do not further endanger our neighbors or the earth which we all inhabit.

Let us choose a path of justice and compassion, upholding the values that bind us as a community. We call on you to stand with the people of Newark and vote against the construction of this power plant. At the end of the day, the fact remains that water flows and wind blows therefore any environmental pollution affects us all. But, together, we can work towards a future that is truly clean and equitable for all.

In solidarity and hope,

Charlene Walker, Executive Director, Faith in New Jersey

Rev. Paul Graves, Clearway Baptist Church Newark, NJ

Rev. Robert Clegg, New Covenant Baptist Church, Newark , NJ

Rev. Kevin Greenwood, Morning Star Baptist Church, Newark, NJ

Rev. Tamara L. Bethea, Abundant Hope Christian Center, Newark, NJ

Rev. Niles Wilson Greater Cornerstone Baptist Church, Newark, NJ

Rev. Stephanie McKay, First Mount Zion Baptist Church, Newark, NJ

Rev. Moacir Weirich, St. Stephan’s Grace Community Church, Newark, N.J.

Rev. Cynthia Jackson, Allen AME Church, Newark, NJ

Rev. Amagu Zedriga Chris Aleti, St. Lucy’s Roman Catholic Church, Newark, NJ

Rev. Hallie Richardson, Mount Vernon Baptist Church, Newark, NJ

Rev. Terrence Dunlap, St. James Baptist Church, Newark, NJ

Rev. Brent Sterling, High Hope Missionary Baptist, Newark, NJ

Rev. Edward Allen, Philemon Baptist Church, Newark, NJ

Rev. Gregory Crawford, Living Waters Apostolic Ministries, Newark, NJ

Rev Camilo Cruz, St. Patrick’s Pro-Cathedral & St. John’s Church, Newark, NJ

Rev. Phillip Waters, St. Mary’s Church Newark Abbey, Newark, NJ

Rev. Joseph Fairley, New Vision Church, Newark, NJ

Rev. Johnny Caldwell, New Born Baptist Church, Newark, NJ

Rev. Orlando Vick Sr., Greater Providence Missionary Baptist Church, Newark, NJ

Rev. Ralph Branch Jr., Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, Newark, NJ

Rev. Michael Thomas, New Dawn Baptist Church, Newark, NJ

Rev. Johnnie Jones, New Light Missionary Baptist Church, Newark, NJ

Rev. Tyronne Singletary, Little Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, Newark, NJ

Rev. Richard Green, The Upperroom House of Worship, Newark, NJ

Bishop Ronald L. Owens – FINJ Board President, New Hope Baptist Church, Metuchen, NJ

Bishop Wayne Johnson, Bible Way Deliverance Center, Roselle, NJ

Rabbi Joel Abraham, Board Secretary, Scotch Plains/Fanwood

Rev. Geralda Aldajuste, St. Paul United Methodist Church, Willingboro, NJ

Deacon Omar Aguilar, Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine, Lindenwold, NJ

Bro. Saffet Catovic – FINJ Board Treasurer, Islamic Society of Central Jersey, S. Brunswick, NJ

Rev. David Ford, St. Matthews Baptist Church, Roselle, NJ

Rev. Carmine Pernini, Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Rahway, NJ

Rev. Barry Wise – FINJ Board Vice President, Greater Mount Moriah Baptist Church, Linden, NJ

Rev. Alphonsus Platt, Nia Fellowship, West Orange NJ

Rev. Dr. William O Henry, Everlasting Life Foundation Ministry, Paterson, NJ

Rev. Amir Khan, New Beginnings, Camden, NJ

Rev. Nyzia Easterling Saving Grace Ministries, Camden, NJ

Deacon Shawn Butler, Kaighn Avenue Baptist Church, Camden, NJ

Rev. Tim Merrill, Imani Fellowship, Camden, NJ

Rev. Spencer Rogers, Kingdom Life Fellowship, Camden, NJ

Rev. Tiffany Alston, KIngs Way International, Camden, NJ

Rev. Norman Alston, KIngs Way International, Camden, NJ

Imam Faheem Lea, Quba School and Islamic Center, Camden, NJ

Rev. Jesse Brown, Christus Evangelical Lutheran Church, Camden, NJ

Rev. Nate Thompson Church of the Open Door Ministries, Trenton, NJ

Right Rev. Michael H. Odom, Sr. Whole Life Community Church, Totowa, NJ

Rev. Dorthy Harris, St. Mary’s Evangelical Christian Church, Jersey City, NJ

Rev. Erik Kussman, St. Bartholomew Lutheran Church, Trenton, NJ

Rev. Michael Howard, Greater Is He Ministries, Trenton, NJ

Rev. Alfred Dingle, Faith Temple Baptist Church, Jersey City, NJ

Rev. Cameron Pryer, Grace Christian Church, Jersey City, NJ

Rev. Errold Lanier, Good News Bible Mission, Jersey City, NJ

Rev. Hattie Ross, True Gospel Holiness Church, Jersey City, NJ

Rev. Norris Gadsden, New Redeemer Reformed Episcopal Church, Jersey City, NJ

Rev. James Brown, From Streets to Christ, Paterson, NJ

Rev. Willie Francois III, Fountain Baptist Church, Summit, NJ

Rev. Marcus Lambright, Community Presbyterian, Mountainside, NJ

Rev. Karen Hernandez-Granzen, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Trenton, NJ

Rev. Russell Owen, Transformative Leadership Consultation Services, Camden NJ

The Ven. Prof. Gideon Uzomechna, The Anglican Church of the Messiah, Plainfield, NJ.

Cantor Risa Wallach, Temple Beth-El, Hillsborough, NJ.

Rev. Jack Martin, Kelley Retirement Home, Caldwell, NJ

Rev. Toby Sanders, Beloved Community Community Church, Trenton, NJ

Rev. Prescott Butler, Orange/Irvington United Methodist Church, Orange, NJ

Rev. Alan Lawrence, New Beginnings Faith Fellowship, Orange, NJ

Rev. Ramon Callazo, Santa Isabel Lutheran Church, Elizabeth, NJ

Rev. Brenda Lumzy-Hicks, Mount Calvary Missionary Church, New Brunswick, NJ

Rev. Fred E. Sharp, Concord Missionary Baptist Church, Perth Amboy, NJ

Rev. William Ingram, Shiloh Baptist Church, Elizabeth, NJ

Rev. Jean Maurice, Temple of Unified Christians, East Orange, NJ

Rev. Sharae Ford, Metropolitan Baptist Church, Scotch Plains, NJ

Rev. George Britt, Mt. Teman AME Church, Elizabeth, NJ

Rev. Derrick Dumas, First Baptist Church of Linden, Linden, NJ

Rev. Steven Wilson Sr., Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, Jersey City, NJ

Rev. Nathaniel Bullock Jr., New Life Worship Ministries, Linden/Monroe, NJ