The editorial board of NJ Business recognized the environmental benefits of new pipeline construction to meet the needs of New Jersey’s businesses for affordable, reliable power generation.
And there’s a major environmental plus to the project. The pipeline will allow the B.L. England power plant to convert from coal and oil to cleaner-burning natural gas, resulting in a 97 percent reduction in sulfur dioxide emissions and major reductions in other pollutants. The pipeline will also provide a backup for the single gas pipeline now serving Atlantic and Cape May counties. The state Department of Environmental Protection says the plant must close if it doesn’t convert to gas. Pipeline critics say the plant should close — and be replaced by a vast solar and wind farm. But solar and wind power at the site cannot meet South Jersey’s power needs, particularly with the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station in Ocean County closing in 2019.
Read more – NJ Business
