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Ad Campaign Launched to Stop the Proposed Pipeline
HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP, NJ (Sept. 22, 2015) — Conservation and citizen groups today called on PennEast to withdraw its proposal for a natural gas pipeline that would cut through 36 miles of environmentally sensitive and preserved lands in central New Jersey citing growing bipartisan opposition to the plan. The groups also announced the launch of an advertising campaign to gain support to stop the pipeline.
“Residents, landowners, elected officials and entire communities are united in their opposition to this unneeded pipeline,” said Patty Cronheim of Hopewell Township Citizens Against the PennEast Pipeline. “It’s time for PennEast to see the writing on the wall that this proposed pipeline is destined for failure.”
Congressman Leonard Lance, the latest elected official to voice serious concerns about the proposed pipeline, recently wrote to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. “These are environmentally sensitive open space areas that I have fought to protect and preserve while a member of the New Jersey Legislature and I believe it would be fiscally and environmentally irresponsible to allow taxpayer protected open space to be used in this manner,” said Lance.
Lance also said in his letter that eminent domain should be used “only in the most limited and extreme cases that benefit public use and not private corporate entities.”
Congresswoman Bonnie Watson-Coleman, New Jersey State Senators Shirley Turner and Christopher ‘Kip’ Bateman and Assembly members Jack Ciatterelli, Donna Simon and Liz Muoio, John DiMaio and Erik Peterson have all gone on record noting grave concerns about the proposed pipeline.
“There is no demonstrated public need for the proposed PennEast pipeline and its construction would be for the benefit of private companies at the expense of our land, private landowners and communities,” said Tom Gilbert, campaign director – Energy, Climate and Natural Resources, New Jersey Conservation Foundation. “ We are grateful that our elected leaders recognize this and are stepping up to protect their constituents from this unnecessary and damaging pipeline.”
In response to PennEast’s stated intention to file their application with FERC by the end of September, New Jersey Conservation Foundation and Stony Brook – Millstone Watershed Association announced the launch of an advertising campaign to stop PennEast, beginning with ads airing in several local papers today.
“In 2015, when our national policy should be focused on a swift transition to clean, renewable energy, it makes no sense that we would consider permanently damaging our communities and important water and other natural resources for the construction of more pipelines that will soon become obsolete,” said Jim Waltman, executive director of the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association.
