BPU OKs Gas Pipeline To B.L. England Plant, Some Decry Action

TRENTON – The state Board of Public Utilities (BPU) on Dec. 16 voted 3-0, led by Chair Richard Mroz, to approve construction of a new natural gas transmission line by South Jersey Gas (SJG) through forest area of the Pinelands.
The pipeline will be 22 miles from Maurice River Township in Cumberland County to B. L. England generating station on the south shore of Great Egg Harbor in Beesley’s Point.
BPU Commissioner Joseph Fiordaliso who had presided over earlier related public hearings at locations in Upper Township was absent from the Dec. 16 vote, BPU Commissioner Upendra Chivukula recused himself from the vote.
According to the BPU decision the project will proceed without oversight by local zoning boards including that of Upper Township which will host a portion of the pipeline. The project allows the England power plant to convert from oil and coal to a natural gas plant and thereby meet air quality standards required by the state Department of the Environment.
Pinelands Commission Executive Director Nancy Wittenberg, stated that having reviewed all related public comments, expert testimony and other relevant documents the project meets the commission’s Comprehensive Management Plan and the commission need take no further action.
Environmentalists have long promised legal action if the BPU gave a green light to the project.
“We are pleased to receive this approval from the BPU and appreciate their ongoing acknowledgement of the need for this critical project for southern New Jersey. We will now review the order in detail and determine our next steps,” said Daniel Lockwood, manager, Stakeholder Relations, South Jersey Gas.
Supporters of the project noted that there was a long list of reasons in favor of permitting the pipeline project to move forward even though it will pass through 10 miles of protected Pinelands Forest Area and proceeds without involvement of local planning or zoning boards.
Environmentalists Incensed
Environmental groups in particular were upset when they heard the decision.
“A real in-your-face decision by the BPU today, regardless of the Global Climate Summit, deprivation of local citizens’ rights on municipal law, or the real danger posed to the Pine Barrens. How can the public be served and represented by this regulatory body when its members are former fossil fuel lobbyists? Mr. Mroz was founder of the N.J. Energy Coalition which represents the interest of the fossil fuel industry. Shame on (Sen. Jeff) Van Drew, (Senate President Stephen) Sweeney and Gov. Christie for promoting infrastructure that hastens the rise in temperature and puts our whole state at risk. Their greed is insatiable. Now the lawyers will have a bonanza with upcoming suits. The citizens are the real losers,” said Georgina Shanley, of Ocean City, who spearheaded a number of initiatives to derail approval.
Jeffrey Tittel, executive director, New Jersey Sierra Club, has long been on record as promising his organization will pursue legal action to ensure the pipeline does not happen. This position reflects the opposition of many local residents as well as four former governors, Brendan Byrne, Thomas Kean, James Florio and Christine Todd Whitman, to what they term is the attack on longstanding preservation efforts of the pinelands, and moreover for no legitimate reason.
Echoing the dismay of those opposed to the pipeline, Carleton Montgomery, executive director, Pinelands Preservation Alliance, said as a result of the BPU decision, “A major precedent-setting development is to be approved with no agency enforcing Pinelands protection rules. Perhaps this maneuver is not surprising, as the Pinelands Commission would have to do a 180-degree reversal of its prior ruling that the pipeline violates Pinelands rules.
“Just skipping any new ruling on Pinelands compliance allows state government to pretend there is no Pinelands Protection Act for this very big project, and other pipelines to come when they are backed by some of the state’s most powerful politicians.”
There was neither indication by South Jersey Gas as to when it wants to begin implementation of the project nor any indication by opposition groups as to when they might file any complaint related to breaking ground for construction of the pipeline. 
BPU spokesperson J. Gregory Reinert was quoted as saying the state’s Attorney General’s office is handling the appeals process and he, himself, did not know if the appeals on their own will keep the pipeline from moving forward.
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.