Controversial Power Plant In Newark Faces Last-Minute Plea: ‘Vote No’

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During the now-infamous storm, the PVSC wastewater facility in Newark was flooded, spilling billions of gallons of raw or partially-treated sewage into the Passaic River. Read More: Superstorm Sandy Caused Flood Of Excrement In New Jersey 10 Years Ago

Since then, the PVSC has rolled out a sweeping series of renovations to avoid future calamities. Part of that plan includes building a plant which would provide backup power to their wastewater treatment plant if the grid goes down.

The PVSC has maintained that the plant will use state-of-the-art emission controls and will have a “negligible impact to the community,” only being used as a backup when a storm cuts out power. Spokespeople have said the agency continues to explore clean energy alternatives for the facility, and is planning to integrate solar and batteries as part of the project. The agency said it is also working with Siemens – the manufacturer of the turbines that would be used to operate the facility – to transition the fuel used in the turbines from natural gas to a mixture of natural gas and hydrogen and then to 100% hydrogen. Read More: Sewerage Commission Defends Newark Power Plant Proposal, Cites Sandy

But while advocates say they understand the need to build resilience in the face of the climate crisis, they insist that the PVSC should do so with a solution that “prioritizes as much renewable energy as possible and doesn’t involve a new “dirty energy power plant,” especially in a neighborhood that’s been long-plagued with environmental hazards – including several other power plants.

A major rallying point for activists has been New Jersey’s landmark environmental justice law, which they allege that the plant would violate. Read More: NJ Activists Hope For ‘Turning Point’ With Environmental Justice Law

Under the law, an “overburdened community” must have at least 35 percent of households that are low-income, 40 percent of residents who are minorities or belong to a state-recognized tribal community, or 40 percent of households that have limited English proficiency.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) designates the Ironbound section of Newark as an overburdened area because it has a high percentage of low-income and minority residents.

However, the NJDEP recently announced that the state will allow the plan to move forward, with Commissioner Shawn LaTourette saying the facility will be taking measures to reduce its environmental footprint, including better pollution controls on boilers that treat sewage sludge, replacing older equipment, and installing more solar panels and batteries. He added that there will be “no disproportionate impact” on minority communities. See Related: Controversial Power Plant In Newark Can Move Ahead, Official Says

After the NJDEP announced its decision, a spokesperson for the PVSC gave Patch the following reaction:

“The PVSC has received the decision and is reviewing it. We note, however, that the decision specifically ‘does not constitute a permit to construct or operate the proposed SPGF or any activity otherwise regulated by [the NJDEP].’”

Several New Jersey state lawmakers who represent the area criticized the NJDEP’s announcement, including Sens. Teresa Ruiz and Renee Burgess, and Assembly members Eliana Pintor Marin, Shanique Speight, Cleopatra Tucker and Garnet Hall.

“The NJDEP’s approval of the PVSC power plant in the Ironbound neighborhood is an indefensible and hypocritical decision that blatantly violates New Jersey’s Environmental Justice Law,” Ruiz said.

“The people most affected by this act will bear the health and psychological brunt, particularly the children who reside in these neighborhoods, unlike the decision-makers who remain comfortably detached from the consequences of their shocking and reprehensible actions,” the senator added.

The Ironbound Community Corporation (ICC), which has been a vocal opponent of the proposal, blasted the NJDEP’s announcement and questioned the sewerage commission’s reasoning.

“The PVSC argues that an additional fossil fuel power plant in Newark is necessary to prevent power outages and subsequent street flooding,” the nonprofit stated. “Despite severe storms like Henry and Ida, which brought record-breaking rainfall to our neighborhood, PVSC has not suffered any power outages since Superstorm Sandy. Their assessment of alternatives, such as solar and battery storage, was conducted over a decade ago and did not account for the significant advancements in solar and battery technologies since then.”

“It is morally irresponsible for PVSC to proceed with this fossil project amidst climate change, heat waves, and advancements in clean energy,” charged Maria Lopez-Nunez, deputy director of organizing and advocacy at the ICC.

“Adding another power plant to our already burdened neighborhood is a racist decision that disregards community health and environmental justice,” she said.

The ball is now in the court of the PVSC board, which is expected to vote on a permit application for the plan at their Sept. 19 meeting.

LETTER: ‘VOTE NO ON POWER PLANT’

The Faith in New Jersey coalition – which includes several clergy members from Newark and the surrounding area – sent the following letter to 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.”

The letter was signed by the following people:

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

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