Sewerage Commission Defends Newark Power Plant Proposal, Cites Sandy

NEWARK, NJ — As the controversy surrounding a proposed power plant in Newark continues to mount, the agency that wants to build it is saying that there are two words that people should keep in mind: Superstorm Sandy.

Earlier this week, a group of 20 lawmakers and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka sent a letter to Gov. Phil Murphy, expressing their “strong opposition” to the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission’s (PVSC) proposed methane gas-fired power plant. Read More: Put The Brakes On Power Plant In Newark, 20 NJ Lawmakers Say

The PVSC has since released a reaction to the letter, which can be seen in full below.

The commission is proposing to build a new natural gas power plant at its existing wastewater treatment facility at 600 Wilson Avenue in Newark. The long-running plan 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 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.

While advocates say they understand the need to build resilience in the face of the climate crisis, the agency should do so with a solution that “prioritizes as much renewable energy as possible and doesn’t involve a new, dirty energy power plant” in an area that many consider “overburdened” by pollution.

SEWERAGE COMMISSION: ‘EXPLORING CLEAN ENERGY ALTERNATIVES’

A spokesperson with the PVSC released a statement to Patch in response to this week’s letter to Gov. Murphy. It follows in full below.

“The Standby Power Generation Facility (SPGF) is a critical element of the resiliency plan to prevent the environmental and public health hazards that the entire community experienced during and as a result of Superstorm Sandy. As a natural gas facility with state-of-the-art emissions control equipment, the facility will only be used for emergencies when there is a loss of power and to prevent critical equipment from shutting down. The PVSC is planning to integrate solar and batteries as part of the project, as well as for wider operating purposes, with the potential for renewables to be a contributor to PVSC’s power supply. The PVSC 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, in accordance with all state and federal guidelines to reduce carbon emissions. The transition to lower carbon/no carbon emissions fuel sources will be done in close collaboration with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and other regulatory agencies.

“Significantly, the PVSC has worked closely with the state and is complying with the requirements of NJDEP Administrative Order 2021-25, which establishes public hearing and comment requirements applicable to facilities sited in overburdened communities as defined in the Environmental Justice Law. The PVSC has provided the NJDEP with all information and studies it has requested for the permitting process.

“The PVSC is continuing to fully explore clean energy alternatives for the facility and has included stakeholder groups in that process, including issuing a request for proposals at the request of local environmental stakeholders to more than 300 industry consultants to explore possible feasible alternatives for the facility. The PVSC held a public meeting in October to share information about the responses it received from respondents to its request for proposals.

“Public outreach and community engagement have been a priority for the PVSC and will continue to be as the PVSC continues through this process. The PVSC has held seven public meetings dedicated solely to the SPGF. These meetings included technical presentations and question and answer sessions. Per the Environmental Justice Law, PVSC also held a public meeting and 90-day public comment period during which it received approximately 500 comments. The PVSC has submitted those responses to the NJDEP, as well as responses to additional questions from NJDEP directly. The public has already had the opportunity to comment at more than two dozen of the commission’s monthly meetings since June 2020.

“The PVSC will continue to engage with the environmental community and the public as the project proceeds through the permitting process.”

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