New Power Plant In Newark Gets OK From Sewerage Commission

NEWARK, NJ — The Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission voted to approve the construction of a new power plant in Newark at their board meeting on Thursday.

The controversial plan has seen vocal criticism from local residents, elected officials and activists, who made a final push to change the commissioners’ minds about the proposal earlier this week.

The commission board members voted 6-2 to authorize a contract for the Standby Power Generation Facility, NJ Advance Media reported.

The plan got “yes” votes from Brendan Murphy, Elizabeth Calabrese, John Cosgrove, James Doran, Joseph Isola and Hector Lora. It got “no” votes from Luis Quintana and C. Lawrence Crump.

The proposal is part of a resiliency blueprint that sprang up in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. During the 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 agency has rolled out a sweeping series of renovations to avoid future calamities. Part of that plan includes building a plant at 600 Wilson Avenue, 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.

Advocates say that the location of the proposed plant – within the immigrant-heavy Ironbound section of the city – is already saturated with sources of pollution, including New Jersey’s largest garbage incinerator, diesel fumes from thousands of container trucks, contamination from the Diamond Alkali Superfund site, numerous smokestacks and other “toxic refuse.”

Three state lawmakers who represent Newark released a joint statement on Friday about the commission's vote: Sen. Teresa Ruiz, Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin, and Assemblywoman Shanique Speight.

The legislators wrote:

"Despite hours of tearful testimony from residents, environmental advocates, and local leaders warning of the devastating health and environmental impacts this power plant will bring to our community, their voices were ignored. We are deeply disappointed by the PVSC Board's decision to move forward with this project, despite overwhelming opposition. This is an area that has carried far more than its share of pollution and health impacts. One in four children in Newark suffers from asthma. Instead of alleviating that burden, PVSC just made it worse. This decision reflects a disregard for environmental justice. It is unacceptable that in a state that claims to champion these values, a polluting facility is allowed to move forward in a part of the city that has long borne the cost of toxic infrastructure. We thank Councilmen Quintana and Crump for standing with the people of Newark and voting no. For them, this is personal. We raise our families here. We breathe this air. And we know what’s at stake. Our children and our elders will bear the consequences of this decision, while those who voted for it return to communities where they can open a window and breathe clean air."

Catch up on some of our recent coverage below.

• See Related: No New Power Plant In ‘Chemical Corridor,’ Newark Residents Demand
• See Related: Sewerage Commission Defends Newark Power Plant Proposal, Cites Sandy
• See Related: Controversial Power Plant In Newark Can Move Ahead, Official Says
• See Related: Put The Brakes On Power Plant In Newark, 20 NJ Lawmakers Say
• See Related: Power Plant In Newark Ignites Another Protest From Outraged Residents

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