New Jersey’s Last Operating Coal Plant Demolished, Clearing Path for Clean Energy

SWEDESBORO, NJ. -- The Logan Generating Plant, one of New Jersey’s last coal plants to retire, was demolished today in front of a crowd of environmental advocates, state and local politicians, labor groups, and public utilities. At the demolition, Starwood Energy, owner of the plant, announced plans to build grid-scale battery storage on the site and will use existing interconnection rights from the old coal plant to connect  new offshore wind transmission lines.

Before this year, a power purchase agreement between Atlantic City Electric and Starwood Energy locked rate-payers into above-market prices for power from the Logan Generating Plant and Chambers Cogeneration Plant. Throughout 2021, the Sierra Club and other partner groups organized a series of public meetings and engagements regarding terminating the agreement. In March, the Board of Public Utilities approved a deal to end the agreement early, retire the plants in June, and refund Atlantic City Electric customers. 

As part of the deal to terminate the power purchase agreement, Starwood Energy committed to redeveloping the sites for clean energy use in partnership with EMI. The announcement of battery storage projects at both Logan and Chambers follows through on this promise and points to New Jersey’s clean energy future. Logan and Chambers are former peaker plants that operated when the grid needed extra support during periods of high demand. Now, the site’s existing interconnection rights will allow for connection to new offshore wind transmission lines. The project at Logan will be among the largest energy storage projects in the state.

Sierra Club President Ramón Cruz and New Jersey Sierra Club Chapter Director Anjuli Ramos-Busot issued the following statements on today’s demolition:

“The Logan demolition today marks the end of the coal era in New Jersey and a major step towards the state's clean energy future,” said Sierra Club President Ramón Cruz. “Battery storage will play an instrumental role in bolstering a clean grid, all without polluting our air or endangering the health of vulnerable communities. Sierra Club encourages other states to follow this example. By continuing to act now, New Jersey can be a national leader on clean energy and ensure a just transition for all.”

“The demolition at Logan puts an end to a decades-long history of polluting air and worsening public health in Swedesboro and New Jersey at large,” said New Jersey Chapter Director Anjuli Ramos-Busot. “This is a moment of positive change and we need to carry this momentum forward and transition to 100% clean energy as soon as possible. It will better our communities now and for generations to come.”