Group Criticizes Plan For Meadowlands Gas Power Plant

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ —A nonprofit criticized a plan to bring a gas power plant to the Meadowlands and urged Gov. Phil Murphy to stop it from being built.

Food & Water Watch senior organizer Matt Smith said Monday that if Murphy approves the power plant, it would "essentially nullify his climate and clean energy goals, and add a major source of pollution in a community already dealing with poor air quality.

The plant is one of four new gas-power plants Murphy is considering approving, NJ Spotlight reported. According to a report, Murphy has a goal to get to 100 percent clean energy by 2050. New Jersey officials are working on a new energy master plan for the state, the report stated.

"If Governor Murphy approved this massive Meadowlands fracked gas power plant, it would essentially nullify his climate and clean energy goals, and add a major source of pollution in a community already dealing with poor air quality," Smith said. "Stopping the power plant is a step Murphy must take."

Dozens of nearby towns and groups, including the Hackensack Meadowlands Municipal Committee and the Bergen League of Municipalities have already come out against constructing the power plant, North Jersey.com reported.

According to Food & Water Watch, the North Bergen power plant could be the largest emitter of greenhouse gases in New Jersey if built. It would sit in an environmentally sensitive area on the banks of Bellmans' Creek, a tributary of the Hackensack River.

Power generated by the plant would not go to North Jersey. It would be sent to New York City through cables under the Hudson River.

State Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, Ridgefield Mayor Anthony Suarez, and dozens of residents and environmentalists were at a rally opposing the power plant. Empower NJ, a coalition of environmental, faith-based, and other organizations organized the rally and other events to encourage Murphy to place a moratorium on all pending fossil fuel projects.

Weinberg called the plant "a boondoggle" that would "worsen our air quality and pollute the Meadowlands.

"There is no excuse for inaction, and no reason to build new fossil fuel plants," Weinberg said.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com