SC Comments on NJ Transit’s Natural Gas Power Plant

NJ Transit is holding a public hearing on their NJ TRANSITGRID, first of its kind microgrid for mass transit in the U.S.  The grid will be powered by a 104-140 MW natural gas-fired power generating plant. The proposed site of the natural gas powerplant will be in Kearny, New Jersey just miles away from the proposed Meadowland Power Plant. Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club released the following statement:

“You cannot have a resiliency project if you are building a fossil fuel power plant. The Governor has committed to 100% clean energy and this is not clean energy. A resiliency natural gas power plant is an oxymoron. It is just the opposite of resilient. This is a natural gas power plant and what is even worse is that is right on top of the Meadowland Power Plant in the middle of an EJ Community. It’s a one two-punch against our lungs.  Government agencies are supposed to protect the public and promote renewable energy, they are doing just the opposite.

“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. EJ communities 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. 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.

“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. This area in particular has some of the worst air pollution in the nation. It’s in the center of a cluster of dirty fuel projects in New Jersey and near the NJ Turnpike. This power plant will also cause serious health impacts to nearby communities. Ozone levels are so high that it may put sensitive individuals at risk, including such as children, the elderly and people suffering from asthma, heart disease and other lung ailments.

“Governor Murphy said he cannot call balls and strikes when it comes to fossil fuel projects like the Meadowlands Power plant, but here his administration just gave away the game to the natural gas industry. Murphy’s draft Energy Master Plan came out is silent on natural gas plants, and now his administration is trying to build one. The EMP language change from zero carbon to carbon neutral can still include natural gas. NJ Transit’s fossil fuel project is a prime example of how carbon neutral is not clean energy and not renewable. There are other energy and power alternatives that NJ Transit can use for a back up grid.”

“We are fighting 5 proposed fossil fuel power plants in New Jersey, and now 6 with our own state pushing for one. Instead of reducing climate impacts, the Murphy Administration is digging New Jersey its own grave. The purpose of this project was to protect us from Sandy. By building more fossil fuel projects, it will make another superstorm like Sandy happened again and the damage would be even worse. We must ask the Murphy Administration to stop this natural gas power plant from polluting our state and preventing us from reaching our renewable energy goals. NJ Transit need to electrify their fleet and move forward on electric buses but they cannot get there if they are going to build a natural gas power plant in Kearny.”