Class II Renewable Bill Passed in State Senate

For Immediate Release

March 17, 2015

Contact Jeff Tittel 609-558-9100

Class II Renewable Bill Passed in State Senate

S2282 (Smith) , which amends definition of Class II Renewable Energy passed through the State Senate yesterday and now is headed to the Governor's desk. This legislation will amend Class II Renewable Energy to include hydropower facilities with a capacity of greater than three megawatts, but less than 30 megawatt capacity. Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club released the following statement:

"The purpose of this bill is to block hydroelectric power from existing projects that are already in place in Pennsylvania from coming on the market in New Jersey. We strongly oppose S2282 because by blocking the hydropower, it will be replaced with dirtier power like incineration. By not allowing this hydropower to come to New Jersey, it means dirtier forms of energy will take its place. The companies that would benefit from this bill are the companies that run New Jersey's four incinerators. The power from hydroelectric in Pennsylvania is cheaper than the power from incinerators. Therefore New Jersey is buying more of the cleaner, cheaper hydroelectric power than the dirtier power from the incinerators. We don't normally support hydroelectric except these dams are already in existence and it's not like they are damming up a valley."

"This bill subsidizes incinerators at the expense of our lungs. Incinerators give off all different types of toxic chemicals from mercury to lead. Smoke stacks also give off foul smells and pollute the air we breathe. Many incinerators cause health problems are in already overburdened environmental justice areas like Newark, Rahway, Camden, Westville, and Oxford in Warren County. The purpose of this bill is to subsidize incinerators to keep them polluting and prevent cleaner forms of power from coming into the state, " said Tittel. "This bill uses ratepayer money to subsidize Wheelabrator and Covanta at the expense of public health and the environment."