Tell Our New Governor: We Want a Clean Start on Energy!

New Jersey has relied heavily on fossil fuels for too long. And still, even more unneeded gas and oil pipelines are proposed to run through our state.

The proposed PennEast pipeline would damage 4,300 acres of taxpayer-preserved land and 38 of the cleanest streams in New Jersey. Several pipelines threaten the Pinelands National Reserve, the source of drinking water for over 1 million people. New pipelines also increase our reliance on fossil fuels that contribute to climate change.

A bipartisan majority of New Jersey voters believes that renewables are important to the state’s health.

When Phil Murphy campaigned for Governor, he pledged to move the state to 100% clean energy. Now, it’s time to make sure he follows through on that promise.

Governor Murphy needs to know that we support his clean energy agenda. Unneeded pipelines like PennEast must be stopped. We want New Jersey to remain a safe, healthy place to live, and we want Governor Murphy to take action to increase our use of clean, renewable energy.

Tell Governor Murphy:

Make our clean energy future a top priority NOW.

Fill in the letter below.*

TellPCommission_StopSRLpipeline

First Name

Last Name

Email Address *

Town

State

The Letter

Dear Pinelands Commissioners,

I urge you to uphold the Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan and reject the New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG) Southern Reliability Link (SRL) pipeline application.

SRL violates several aspects of the Comprehensive Management Plan (CMP).

A significant portion of the proposed route is located in the Pinelands Preservation Area designated by the Pinelands Protection Act.  The Act states that this area is “especially vulnerable” to degradation of waters, and any degradation would cause “a severe adverse impact upon the entire pinelands area.” 18:18A-2.

Keeping this area well-protected is essential for ensuring the integrity of the Pinelands, the Pinelands Protection Act, and the CMP.

SRL also fails to meet essential water resource protections outlined in the CMP.

SRL would run through two Superfund sites for which the EPA has required specific remediation actions. We must avoid any possible spread of contaminants in these areas. There is not sufficient data on contamination and site geology in these areas or throughout the route, to ensure the safety of construction and operation of the pipeline.

The Pinelands regulations for development within federal installations and linear improvements hinges on need – that the project is genuinely associated with the Federal facility, and that the need for the development overrides the importance of protecting wetlands. This pipeline, however, is not needed. The Joint Base is unable to tap into a pipeline without an interconnection station, and NJNG has no intention to build one.

Neither NJNG nor the NJ Board of Public Utilities has conducted a reliability analysis to determine whether this project is necessary. Independent expert reports have demonstrated that a project of this magnitude is explicitly unneeded our region’s gas demands.

Please do not risk the Pinelands or the integrity of the CMP on this unneeded pipeline.

Thank you.

Thank you for making your voice heard. Click here to share this letter on Twitter. Together, we can build cleaner, healthier, safer energy for New Jersey, not more fossil fuel pipelines.

*Your letter will automatically be sent to Phil Murphy and his team.

ReThink Energy NJ is a campaign supporting a rapid transition away from reliance on fossil fuels and pipelines, to clean, efficient, renewable energy like wind and solar. By submitting your letter, you agree to receive periodic communications from ReThink Energy NJ.

Contact

Campaign Director

admin@rethinkenergynj.org

ReThink Energy NJ