Last night, the Hoboken City Council unanimously adopted a resolution opposing a plan to build a new fracked gas power plant in Woodbridge.

The Competitive Power Ventures plan would place a 630 megawatt plant amid a densely populated community already overburdened with fossil fuel pollution.  If approved, CPV’s new facility would emit more than 2.3 million metric tons of greenhouse gases (GHGs) each year, along with toxic pollutants like particulate matter, NOx and formaldehyde.

The company — which was embroiled in a high-profile corruption scandal in New York over approval for a plant in Orange County — already operates a gas-fired power plant adjacent to the proposed site. Combined with its existing power plant, CPV’s power plant in Woodbridge would be one of the largest single sources of climate-destroying carbon emissions in New Jersey, emitting over 4 million tons of GHGs every year.

“I am yet again proud of Hoboken for making the environmentally correct choice in voicing its opposition to yet another fossil fuel power plant in New Jersey,” said Hoboken resident Liz Ndoye. “We are leading the way in helping to slow the progress of the climate crisis and helping to save lives from the severe and damaging health effects of air pollution caused by fossil fueled power plants.” 

“Hoboken is proud to take a leading role in opposing yet another ill-conceived fossil fuel power plant in the Garden State,” said Councilman Phil Cohen, who sponsored the resolution. “We stand in solidarity with our friends in Woodbridge to protect their right to breathe clean air.  New Jersey is on the front lines of the climate crisis and Hoboken is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to combat climate change.”

Hoboken joins Edison and Highland Park councils in opposing the CPV plant. Its adoption comes as state officials develop and implement rules under a new environmental justice law, which will make it harder for polluting projects like this one to be sited in overburdened communities.

If approved by the Murphy administration, the proposed new facility would be a significant source of air and climate pollution. Each of the towns located within 5 miles of the proposed site (Woodbridge, Perth Amboy, South Amboy, Metuchen, and Edison) are considered overburdened, with 73% of all census block groups meeting one or more of the state’s environmental justice criteria.

“There is simply no need to add another source of air and climate pollution in this part of the state, or anywhere else,” said Food & Water Watch organizer Charlie Kratovil. “If Governor Murphy wants us to believe he is ready to be a climate leader, he will reject the Keasbey plant.”