WINSLOW – Local 322 Plumbers & Pipefitters headquarters today hosted a press conference where elected officials and representatives of business and labor expressed support of the South Jersey Gas Reliability Pipeline.
The event was held following South Jersey Gas’ filing of an amendment on May 21st to its 2013 proposed pipeline project application that is still pending with the New Jersey Pinelands Commission. The document responds to comments and issues raised during the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) process and accounts for changed circumstances since the January 2014 vote on the MOA. The amended application outlines the need for the construction of the 22-mile, 24-inch high pressure natural gas pipeline from just outside Millville in Maurice River Township, Cumberland County, to Beesley’s Point in Upper Township, Cape May County.
The new pipeline will reinforce the area’s access to safe and reliable energy by providing a critical back-up supply route for natural gas to more than 142,000 customers in Cape May and Atlantic counties who are currently served by a single pipeline; the new pipeline will make them far less vulnerable to a service outage in the event of an accident or natural disaster. The pipeline will also provide the B.L. England electric generation facility in Beesley’s Point with the natural gas supply needed to stop burning coal, a major goal of New Jersey’s 2011 Energy Master Plan and of air pollution regulations.
Kurt Krueger, business manager of Local 322 Plumbers & Pipefitters, welcomed guests and offered his local’s support of the project. “Make no mistake about it, our members need the jobs associated with the conversion of the B.L. England plant from coal to natural gas, but it’s more than just jobs,” said Krueger. “This is a well-designed, well-thought out project that is needed and will benefit the people and the businesses of Cape May and Atlantic Counties.”
State Senator Jeff Van Drew (D-1) said, “From the beginning I have supported South Jersey Gas’ plan to build a new natural gas pipeline. This project creates and retains jobs, turns a coal-burning plant into one that uses natural gas, which is a big win for air quality and it does this by running under a highway and not endangering the Pinelands. It’s time to get this project approved and underway,” he added.
“I am here to voice our strong support for this project,” said Michael Egenton, senior vice president for the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce. “Aside from a reliable supply of natural gas to the region, the B.L. England plant is located in a critical electric congestion area and is the only significant electricity generator in southeastern New Jersey. Studies have shown that B.L. England is needed to support the electric reliability needs of homes and businesses in this portion of the state. The need for the facility to stay on-line is crucial in providing significant electric reliability for our citizens and business owners. This is only exacerbated by the 2019 retirement of the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station.”
Debra DiLorenzo, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Southern New Jersey spoke in support of the pipeline. “We whole-heartedly support this project and have done so since day-one. We recognize the work done by South Jersey Gas to evaluate and re-evaluate, with the NJDEP’s full support and endorsement, the proposed pipeline route and we commend the company for not walking away from a critical infrastructure improvement that will serve the people and businesses of our region and repower the B.L. England plant.”
“The Cape May and Atlantic County Reliability Pipeline is an important project that will provide our citizens with the security and reliability they need in a post-Sandy world,” said Michele Siekerka President, New Jersey Business & Industry Association. “The bottom line is this is the type of responsible infrastructure New Jersey needs.”
The following list represents individuals and groups who were in attendance at the press conference:
New Jersey State Senate
New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey
New Jersey Business and Industry Association
Southern NJ Development Council
Cape May County Chamber of Commerce
Alliance for Action
New Jersey Energy Coalition
New Jersey Farm Bureau
New Jersey Regional Council of Carpenters
IBEW Local 351
IBEW Local 210
Operating Engineers LU 825
Plumbers and Pipefitters LU 322
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