Emotions Surface at BPU Hearing Focused on Gas Line to Power Plant

PETERSBURG – The state Board of Public Utilities (BPU) held two public hearings Oct. 19 on the potential conversion by South Jersey Gas of the coal-powered B.L. England generating station in Beesley’s Point to natural gas.
The BPU set two different times for those hearings at Upper Township Municipal Building, one at 3 p.m. and the other at 6 p.m., to allow as many participants as possible to attend.
Hearing’s Purpose
Per the opening statement of Joseph Fiordaliso, a BPU commissioner, the purpose of those hearings was to allow citizen comments about BPU’s consideration of whether to waive local municipal land use requirements that would otherwise apply to the project.
Under state statute, zoning, site plan review and other land use regulations approved by local municipalities do not apply to projects if they are deemed “reasonably necessary for the service, convenience, or welfare of the public.”
Fiordaliso also gave a synopsis of the lengthy history of South Jersey Gas’ various attempts to get the project approved and then opened the floor to the numerous individuals who wished to make oral statements. Opportunity is available as well to submit written statements to the BPU by email or posted mail.
Arguments Pro, Con
Arguments pro and con made at the hearing followed what have become well-known positions.
Jeff Tittel, director of the Sierra Club in New Jersey, was first to speak. He said, “We continue to oppose this project, and we ask that you reject it for all the arguments we have talked about from the beginning: South Jersey Gas  is not a private developer as it has stated in its petition; there has been undue political influence in moving it forward; there is no need for this plant; and it will without doubt cause irreparable harm to the Pinelands.
He was followed by Deborah DiLorenzo, president of the South Jersey Chamber of Commerce, whose statement summed up the beliefs of supporters: It will enhance reliability and resiliency of energy delivery for South Jersey; create jobs; and support the needs of 142,000 residents in this part of the state. 
However, it was during the statements of residents who actually live “within the shadow of the B.L. England plant” as Ocean City resident Georgina Shanley described it, when there seemed to be more emotion than exhibited at past hearings.
Shanley continued, “You think we are stupid, there are so many ‘suits’ here representing organizations with conflicts of interest, direct financial interest, politicizing this issue, and you are taking away home rule from the people who live here.”
Diane Marie, of Marmora near Beesley’s Point, site of the plant, said, “The pope who was just here is adored because he is a truth teller, I feel the BPU says one thing, but means another. You [looking at Fiordaliso] listen to us politely then you ignore all the correct science that you have been given showing how destructive this pipeline will be, and that is wrong. I feel like we are living in the Dark Ages and we are the serfs.”
Daniel Lockwood, (not the Middle Township committeeman), a spokesperson for South Jersey Gas’ parent company South Jersey Industries, issued an earlier statement before the hearing that BPU approval is common for projects that travel through multiple municipalities.
“Should the BPU approve the municipal land use agreement, the project will go back to the Pinelands Commission for final review,” Lockwood stated. 
Project History
Under terms of an administrative consent order from the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) the England facility is required to stop operations, re-configure its existing coal and oil fired units or meet prescribed performance standards.
Unit 1 Coal Fired Burner at the England facility was shut down in 2013. Two other burners, one coal fired and the other using fuel oil, were to be converted under the consent order to natural gas.
South Jersey Gas has been trying for several years to convert this burner to natural gas through a 22-mile-long pipeline that is planned to go through Maurice River Township, Estell Manor and Upper Township.
A major controversy due to the pipeline’s trajectory through the Pinelands National Reserve has resulted in delays to the start of this conversion.
The New Jersey Pinelands Commission that is responsible for land use and development in the Pinelands Reserve voted 7-7 on a memorandum of agreement that would have approved the route through a small portion of the Pinelands.
Per the Pinelands website the memorandum would authorize this public agency to engage in development activities that are not fully consistent with Pinelands land use and development standards. Nevertheless, to move forward eight votes were needed for approval and so the SJG project came to a standstill.
In August, Nancy Wittenberg, Pinelands Commission executive director, announced that a certificate of filing has been granted for the proposed pipeline.
Per the commission website, a certificate of filing is used for applicants to engage in private development and allows the applicant to seek municipal or county approval for their proposed project.
Dr. Steven Fenichel, an Ocean City resident in early October, filed an ethics complaint against Wittenberg for her unilateral decision, made without a full vote by the commission, to approve this certificate.
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.