By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog
Plenty of politicians talk about “creating” jobs, Save Jerseyans, but only a few actually try to unshackle the free market and let it put people back to work.
Freshman Assemblyman Sam Fiocchi (R-1) is trying to do just that, strongly urging the Pinelands Commission to reconsider its vote that killed the much-anticipated BL England (BLE) Pipeline Project.
“From a safety, economic and environmental standpoint, this project is a winning combination for all stakeholders,” said Fiocchi during a presser last week in the Cape May County community of Upper Township. “The state-of-the art pipeline will help a power supplier provide cleaner energy without damaging our natural resources as it will run under and adjacent to already paved roadways. It will also provide nearly 300 temporary construction jobs and, when completed, 100 permanent jobs.”
The plan made plenty of sense…
South Jersey Gas would’ve constructed a 22-mile natural gas pipeline running from Maurice River Township (Cumberland County) though Estell Manor (Atlantic County) to the BL England power plant in Upper Township. Ironically, the proposal would’ve conformed with New Jersey’s 2011 Energy Master Plan by allowing the Upper Township plant to convert from coal to natural gas. The company was prepared to pay $8 million to a Pinelands fund for the privilege in exchange for a waiver from a ban on the erection new transmission lines in the reserve.
The project came off the rails back on January 10th of this year when the Commission’ final vote resulted in a 7-7 split; rules require 8 votes, a clear majority, for the project to advance.
Commissioners Avery (Ocean County), Brown (Cape May County), Earlen (Burlington County), Galletta (Atlantic County), McGlinchey (Camden County), Quinn (a gubernatorial appointee) and Witt (Gloucester County) voted to advance the project
Chairman of the Pinelands Commission Mark Lohbauer (another gubenatorial appointee), and Commissioners Ashmun (gubernatorial appointee) , DiBello (a federal representative), Ficcaglia (Cumberland County), Jackson (gubernatorial appointee), Prickett (gubernatorial appointee), and Green (gubernatorial appointee) voted to kill it.
But opposition isn’t rooted in “sense” or logic, Save Jerseyans.
Sure, the BLE Pipeline would’ve created tons of jobs AND promoted clean energy, much like the long-languishing Keystone XL Pipeline. What are opponents really trying accomplish? Satisfying their hyper-emotion, knee-jerk hostility to anything that would help make this country more self-sufficient.
Here’s hoping Fiocchi can win some converts here in New Jersey, just as the Keystone pipeline gains support among national Democrats and labor unions.
“There is no oversupply of electric generation in South Jersey,” stated Fiocchi. “In fact, Oyster Creek (Nuclear Generating Station) is going to be retired in the not so distant future which will further deplete generation in the region. Our homes and businesses need a reliable energy source which the pipeline can provide. Renewable energy sources certainly should be part of the equation, but the sun doesn’t always shine and the wind doesn’t always blow. Plants such as BLE are needed to supplement a robust renewable program while maintaining reliability of the electric grid.”
My only question: why aren’t Republicans, from the Governor on down, making an even bigger deal out of this fight? It’s a win-win situation on all fronts, policy and political. But you can’t win on an issue that you never raise…
The green movement in US has been, and still is, bankrolled by the Saudis. I wish more people knew that.