NJEJA Letter to PVSC Opposing Proposed Fourth Power Plant

On September 19, New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance submitted a letter to the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission detailing our opposition to the proposed fourth power plant to be built in the Ironbound community in the City of Newark. As the letter details, we unequivocally stand with the Ironbound Community Corporation and other individuals and organizations across the state who have urged the commission to vote no on this harmful project. 

“For months, if not years, the residents of Newark have opposed the construction of an additional power plant in their city due to valid health concerns. High rates of asthma, cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and reproductive issues already plague the Ironbound community. Moving forward with this project would be a direct and disrespectful disregard for the health of the people who live, play, and work in this community. It would continue the harms of environmental racism and exacerbate the climate crisis.”

For questions regarding NJEJA’s position and related policy concern, please contact Brooke Helmick, Director of Policy at brooke@njeja.org.

Read the full letter below.

NJEJA Opposes PVSC Fourth Power PlantDownload

NJEJA, ICC, and SWEA Submit Comments to the U.S. Coast Guard Opposing the N.J. Turnpike

On July 12, 2024, New Jersey environmental justice organizations, the New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance, Ironbound Community Corportation, and Southward Environmental Alliance, submitted joint comments to the U.S. Coast Guard in order to continue vocalizing opposition to the proposed New Jersey Turnpike expansion project.

These comments highlight grave concerns regarding negative environmental and climate impacts, subsequent health impacts, and disproportionate burdens to environmental justice communities. Our concerns are grounded in a desire to protect our communities from adverse health impacts as a result of toxic air pollution, increased emissions of greenhouse gases and co-pollutants, and the cumulative impacts of living in environmental justice communities which host multiple polluting projects.

We stand firm in the knowledge that there are better alternatives than expanding the turnpike and that any project must acknowledge, center, and meaningful address the risks to environmental justice communities before being allowed to move forward. Furthermore, there must be intentional and substantive community engagement processes in order to be considered.

For questions regarding NJEJA’s position and related policy concern, please contact Brooke Helmick, Director of Policy at brooke@njeja.org.

Read our full comments below:

EJ-Opposes-the-Turnpike-ExpansionDownload