NJ Transit Public Hearing on Fossil Fuel Power Plant in Kearny
NJ Transit Public Hearing on Fossil Fuel Power Plant in Kearny
NJ Transit tout their NJ TRANSITGRID, first of its kind microgrid for mass transit in the U.S. The idea of this system is that the grid will provide electric power to NJ Transit facilities in northeast New Jersey. The grid will be powered by a 104-140 MW natural gas-fired power generating plant. NJ Transit will hold a public hearing on the project on Tuesday, June 18, 2019 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM at Saint Peter’s University The Duncan Family Sky Room.
“NJ Transit as part of its resiliency program wants to build a natural gas fired power plant. You cannot be resilient if you are building more fossil fuel infrastructure. This agency wants a natural gas plant for their microgrid instead of using renewable energy. It’s sort of like having a horse pull your Tesla. This is the opposite of resilient. What’s even worse is that proposed site is in an EJ Community and a few miles away from the proposed Meadowlands power plant,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “Government agencies are supposed to protect the public and promote renewable energy, they are doing just the opposite.”
The proposed location will be in an industrial zone in Kearny, NJ. Transmission lines and associated infrastructure will extend to substations in Kearny, Jersey City, Bayonne, Hoboken, Weehawken, Union City, and North Bergen, NJ. The site is right next to the proposed North Bergen Generating Station in Bergen County and near PSE&G’s South Kearny natural gas power plant.
“NJ Transit, a state agency, should not be pushing more fossil fuels and air pollution in an EJ community. What makes it even worse is that they are using taxpayer money to do it. This area has some of the worst air quality in the nation and building another natural gas power plant will only exacerbate that. These types of plants emit heavy metals and chemicals like ammonia and nitrogen oxide,” said Tittel. “The proposed Meadowlands power plant site is less than 10 miles away and Kearny already has natural gas power plant that is in service NJ Transit could use. The Alden Leeds chlorine plant that caught fire and the Keegan Landfill that has a contamination problem are also nearby.”
The NJ TRANSITGRID TRACTION POWER SYSTEM will consist of a central, natural gas-fired power plant and transmission lines to traction power substations that electrify the tracks and operating controls on portions of the NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak systems.
“We cannot add any more harmful pollution to our air and lungs. Our entire state received an “F” grade for air quality from the American Lung Association. We also have serious ozone pollution in New Jersey because almost every county that conducts monitoring has a failing grade for ozone. We also are fighting 5 proposed fossil fuel power plants in New Jersey, and now 6 with our own state pushing for one. Another fossil fuel plant in Kearny will be the tipping point for the welfare of the community and the environment. It is important for people to come out to the hearing and voice their opposition to this unnecessary and unneeded fossil fuel project,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.
NJ Transit will hold a public hearing of the project on Tuesday, June 18, 2019 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM at Saint Peter’s University The Duncan Family Sky Room, 6th Floor 47 Glenwood Avenue Jersey City, NJ 07306. A presentation of the project will be made at 2:30 PM and 7:30 PM, followed by the opportunity for hearing attendees to provide comments to the project committee
