Trenton, NJ — The Delaware River Basin Commission’s unanimous vote to extend the permit for the proposed Gibbstown LNG export terminal represents a reckless giveaway to fossil fuel interests that endangers New Jersey communities and the Delaware River itself. Governor Murphy’s representative from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection not only voted in favor, but made the motion to approve this disastrous extension.

For years, residents, scientists, and elected officials have warned that the Gibbstown project would threaten public health, put nearby towns at risk of catastrophic explosions, and dredge up toxic pollution buried in the riverbed. The terminal would also unleash a surge of fracked gas drilling and lock us into decades of climate-wrecking emissions.

“The DRBC’s vote to extend this permit is an outrageous betrayal of the communities along the Delaware River,” said Kate Delany, Senior Organizer with Food & Water Watch. “For years, the public has made it clear that the Gibbstown LNG terminal is a reckless threat to our health, safety, and climate. Instead of heeding science and community opposition, the DRBC — with Governor Murphy’s representative even making the motion to approve — has chosen to prop up a failing fossil-fuel export scheme that endangers residents on both sides of the river and locks us deeper into climate chaos. This isn’t just a step in the wrong direction — it’s a betrayal of the public trust.”

This disastrous approval comes amid a broader push by fossil fuel companies, backed by Trump’s federal agenda, to force unwanted infrastructure into New Jersey. Projects like the revived Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) pipeline show how the industry is doubling down on schemes that New Jersey communities have already rejected.