In Your Opinion: Kramer, Lempert, Camarota Open Letter To State DEP Commissioner

The undersigned are writing this open letter to request that you deny Williams/Transco’s Applications for a Freshwater Wetlands Permit, Waterfront Development Individual Permit and Coastal Wetlands Permit for the unnecessary and dangerous Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) project, which includes compressor station 206.

This project presents significant perils to local residents in the form of potential fires and explosions as well as air and water pollution, to name just a few. It also is a threat to the world climate in that it will add to greenhouse gas emissions both directly and by promoting the use of fossil fuels. It will disrupt over 14,000 acres of Raritan Bay threatening fish eggs, larvae, clam and oyster beds.

Expert reports state that there is a lack of a “compelling public need” for the project. There has also been failure to demonstrate that there is “no practicable alternative”. In addition, this project is not in the public interest due to the negative impacts from increased NOx emissions as well as its detrimental impact to water quality and endangered species as well as safety concerns.

Governor Murphy wants New Jersey to “regain its place as a national clean energy leader”, with “100% carbon-free electricity” and to protect our Jersey Shores from fossil fuel projects damaging to “our multibillion tourism and fishing economies”. https://www.murphy4nj.com/issue/environment/

We see the goal of the NJDEP to, as its name implies, protect. Why then promote a project that opposes these aspirations of the Governor? Why build infrastructure simply because the fossil fuel industry has overstated the need? Who, other than our children and their children, will remove a decaying infrastructure which a declining fossil fuel industry can no longer support? This project does not provide our constituents with any benefits nor does it add to their quality of life, conversely, it detracts from it.

It is for these reasons and too many more to enumerate here, we, the undersigned, implore you to deny these permits and support the Governor in his efforts to move New Jersey towards an economy powered by clean energy.

Franklin Township Mayor Phillip Kramer

Princeton Mayor Liz Lempert

South Brunswick Deputy Mayor Joseph J. Camarota Jr.

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