Christie vetoes off-shore liquified natural gas project

In a move that environmental groups are calling a major victory in the fight to protect New Jersey's marine environment, Governor Chris Christie last week vetoed a proposal that would allow a liquified natural gas terminal off the coast of New Jersey.

The Liberty Natural Gas project would have consisted of 44 miles of submerged offshore pipeline and nine miles of onshore pipe. The station would have been beyond view from the shore, with pipes extending from a location off the Asbury Park shoreline to a terminal in Linden.

“This is a clear victory for the ocean,” said Cindy Zipf, Executive Director of Clean Ocean Action, in a release. “It is our most treasured natural resource and it will now be free from harmful industrialization.”

The veto comes on the heels of a few years of vehement protests from various environmental groups, who have opposed the project since its inception.

"The Governor’s veto today keeps New Jersey's eye on the prize — environmentally and economically, we need to be developing clean renewable energy and becoming more energy efficient instead of relying on dirty and dangerous options like liquid natural gas on the Jersey Shore," said Dave Pringle, director of the New Jersey Environmental Federation.

Christie stated publicly on Earth Day 2010 that he would veto any off-shore liquified natural gas projects. Shortly after that announcement, Atlantic Sea Island Group, who had planned to build an LNG facility off the coast of Sea Bright, and ExxonMobil, who had planned to construct a LNG storage facility off Sea Girt, both withdrew their plans. Only Liberty continued its plans.

"I take very seriously our obligation to protect the environmental health of our coastal waters,” Gov. Christie said. “Offshore LNG poses unacceptable risks to the State's residents, natural resources, economy and security. We must ensure that our 126 miles of shoreline remain an economic driver for tourism and that our fishing and shellfish industries remain healthy and productive now and for future generations.” 

While lauding the governor's recent action, environmentalists insist the fight is not over. Local activists will now push for permanent federal protection of New Jersey's coasts from future LNG project proposals.