gov. christie on fracking ban legislation veto

8/4/2019 Gov. Christie on Fracking Ban Legislation Veto

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Governor Chris Christie Stands Up for Sound Policymaking By Issuing One-Year Moratorium on Fracking

Issues Conditional Veto Changes to Institute a One-Year Moratorium on Fracking While State and

Federal Agencies Review Issue Comprehensively

For Immediate Release Contact: Michael Drewniak

Thursday, August 25, 2011 Kevin Roberts

609-777-2600

Trenton, NJ Emphasizing his firm commitment to protecting New Jerseys environment and future

economic growth, Governor Christie today issued a conditional veto of S-2576, recommending changes

to the legislation that appropriately balance his commitment to protecting New Jerseys environmentand drinking water and encouraging cleaner energy with the need for proper study of the potential

impacts of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, in New Jersey. As currently written, S-2576 would

permanently prohibit fracking in New Jersey, a drilling technique used for the exploration or production

of natural gas, even as concurrent studies on the practice are underway by the federal government and

no known natural gas deposits necessitating use of the fracking process have been proposed for

development in New Jersey.

In conditionally vetoing the legislation, Governor Christie emphasized that he is committed to protecting

New Jerseys environment and drinking water sources, but that significant facts and studies on the issue

are still outstanding with the federal U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy.

The Governor also indicated that the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has not yet

fully evaluated the issue of fracking in New Jersey, leaving an incomplete public record on which to base

a complete, permanent statutory ban.

I share many of the concerns expressed by the legislators that sponsored this bill and the

environmental advocates seeking a permanent moratorium on fracking. We must ensure that our

environment is protected and our drinking water is safe, said Governor Christie. I am placing a one-year moratorium on fracking so that the DEP can further evaluate the potential environmental impacts

of this practice in New Jersey as well as evaluate the findings of still outstanding and ongoing federal

studies.



Significantly, S-2576 was pushed through the legislature at the very same time that two federal agencies

the Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the Department of Energy (USDOE) were studying

the environmental impact of fracking. While the USDOE issued preliminary recommendations over the

past two weeks outlining immediate steps that can be taken to improve the safety and environmental

performance of shale gas development, including the development of best practices, a final report by

the USDOE is not expected until November 2011 and the preliminary findings of USEPAs study are not

expected to be released until 2012.

The potential environmental concerns with fracking in our state must be studied and weighed carefully

against the potential benefits of increasing access to natural gas in New Jersey. The decision on whether

to ban fracking outright or regulate it for environmental protection must be developed on the basis of

sound policy and legitimate science, continued the Governor. Therefore, while I share many of the

concerns expressed by those who support this legislation, I believe that a one-year moratorium on

fracking in New Jersey while the issue is studied by the USDOE, USEPA, and NJDEP is the most prudent,

responsible, and balanced course of action.

As a cleaner and more cost-effective alternative to coal or oil, natural gas must play a significant role in

New Jerseys energy future. Governor Christies draft Energy Master Plan encourages the development

of in-state, natural gas-fired electrical power not only to reduce New Jerseyans energy costs, but also to

protect our environment by eliminating the need for power from coal states and by accelerating the

decommissioning of older, dirtier, and less efficient coal and oil-fired electrical generation plants in New

Jersey. Natural gas is a much cleaner form of energy than coal or oil, emitting much less sulfur dioxide,

fine particulates, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and greenhouse gases than those energy sources.

S-2576 was sponsored by Senators Robert M. Gordon (D-Bergen), Linda R. Greenstein (D-Mercer,

Middlesex) and Christopher Kip Bateman (R-Morris, Somerset) and Assemblymembers Connie Wagner

(D-Bergen), Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer), Valerie VainieriHuttle (D-Bergen) and Ruben J. Ramos, Jr. (D-

Hudson).

A copy of the conditional veto is attached to the release.

Governor Christies Continued Commitment to Renewable Energy



The future for New Jersey is in green energy and already weve put in place policies to broaden our

access to renewable sources of energy, cleaner natural gas generation and ending our reliance on coal

generation.

Governor Chris Christie, 5/26/11

The Christie Administration has a proven record of commitment to secure the environmental and

economic benefits of renewable energy in our state. The wind power movement is providing New

Jersey with a unique opportunity to advance green energy as industry. New Jersey is leveraging the

state's tremendous resources with innovative technologies, enabling our state to increase its use of

renewable energy sources while advancing an industry that will create new jobs.

New Jersey Renewable Energy By the Numbers

· New Jersey has 10,086 solar energy array projects installed across the state providing over 380

MW of installed capacity.

· In June 2011, 520 solar projects were installed totaling over 40 MW of installed capacity.

· For the first quarter of 2011, New Jersey installed 42 MW of solar, representing 49% growth over

first quarter 2010.

· According to the Department of Energy, New Jersey has the 7th highest Renewable Energy

Portfolio Standard in the nation at 22.5%.

Wind Achievements:



· Accelerated development of offshore wind projects through close coordination with the federal

government to speed implementation of 1,000 MW of wind turbines;

· Conducted a Board of Public Utilities application process for prospective developers of offshore

wind projects to be located in New Jersey waters;

· Joined with the federal government and fellow East Coast states to establish the Offshore Wind

Consortium to promote commercial wind development on the Outer Continental Shelf of the East Coast;

· Provided "areas of interest" to the US Department of the Interior, enabling the subsequent federal

"Call for Nominations" for wind project leases off the Jersey coast, which garnered 11 project proposals

representing a combined 12,500 megawatts of green energy capacity;

· Signed the Offshore Wind Economic Development Act to provide financial assistance and tax

credits to businesses that construct manufacturing, assembly and water access facilities that support

offshore wind projects;

· Completed a first-of-its-kind, two-year baseline study that identifies environmentally optimal sites

for offshore wind turbines.

Moving forward on the Governors commitment to develop renewable sources of energy that protect

the environment, promote economic development and create jobs, the Christie Administration has

made New Jersey one of the largest and fastest-growing solar energy markets in the United States.

Solar Achievements:

· In June 2011, New Jersey set new monthly records for installed capacity and number of

installations:

o 520 solar projects installed, totaling over 40 MW of installed capacity.

· New Jersey has 10,086 solar energy projects installed across the state providing over 380 MW of

installed capacity;

· New Jersey has one of the nations most robust and mature Solar Renewable Energy Certificate

(SREC) markets, which along with the best availability for long-term SREC contracts makes project

finance much easier to attain;

· For the first quarter of 2011, New Jersey installed 42 MW of solar, representing 49% growth over

first quarter 2010;



· The state has primarily become a market for non-residential projects over 100 kW;

· New Jersey is home to the largest rooftop solar array in the country, Gloucester Marine Terminal,

at just over 9MW, 1 million square feet of panels, $42 million project, which powers 80% of the ports 2

refrigeration and freezer warehouse;

· New Jersey Meadowlands Commission (NJMC) has begun construction on a project to transform a

closed Commission landfill into a productive solar farm that will generate up to 3 megawatts of

renewable, cost-efficient electricity:

o The solar installation project at the 1A Landfill in Kearny is a joint effort between the NJMC,

SunDurance Energy and Public Service Electric & Gas Company (PSE&G);

o With the NJMC project, the grid-connected solar installation will feature 12,506 solar panels mounted

on 13 acres atop the 35-acre landfill;

o In June, the NJMC leased the 13 acres to SunDurance Energy, which will build the solar array;

o PSE&G will purchase the solar farm just prior to completion and take over the lease from

SunDurance. The utility will own, operate and maintain the facility as part of its Solar 4 All program;

o The solar farm is expected to be placed in service during the fourth quarter of 2011;

o Installation of solar panels is expected to begin later this summer;

o In addition to its solar landfill project, this year, the NJMC will construct a solar canopy over its

administration building parking lot. The canopy will generate approximately 20 percent of the electricity

needs of the NJMCs headquarters.

Governor Christie put forward a revised Energy Master Plan that maintains New Jerseys renewable

energy portfolio target at an aggressive, achievable level of 22.5% by 2021.

· According to the Department of Energy, New Jersey has the 7th highest Renewable Energy

Portfolio Standard in the nation at 22.5%;

· Nationally, 14 states maintain no renewable energy standard whatsoever;

· Governor Christies draft 2011 Energy Master Plan commits to no new coal-fired plants in New

Jersey, ensuring that additional generation capacity comes from cleaner sources.

Beyond Green Energy, the Christie Administration Has Made a Strong Commitment to Protecting New

Jersey's Environment:



· Enacted a Fiscal Year 2011 Budget that kept all parks, historic sites and wildlife operations running;

· Restored beach replenishment funding to its full level;

· Continued to advocate--both publicly and in the courts--a strong position against the dredging

project to deepen the Delaware River;

· Stated clear opposition to off-shore drilling in New Jersey, as well as drilling off the coast of other

states that could negatively impact New Jersey's waters and beaches, such as Delaware and Virginia;

· Maintained opposition to liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities off of New Jersey's coastline,

including the veto of a proposed deepwater operation 16 miles off the coast of Asbury Park, preventing

construction and operation of an offshore port to receive foreign vessels transporting liquid natural gas

(LNG) to the U.S. for regasification;

· Signed legislation exempting solar panels from certain land use restrictions and identifying solar

energy developments as an important land use that will protect the environment;

· Signed into law three bills to improve the health of Barnegat Bay as components of a

comprehensive 10-point Barnegat Bay Restoration plan for the long-term restoration of this 660-square

mile ecological gem and improvement of water quality statewide, including establishing the strictest-in-

the-nation standards for fertilizer content and application;

· Signed an Executive Order that targets air pollution caused by diesel engines used on major

transportation construction projects in New Jersey, creating a diesel emission retrofit Pilot Program for

construction equipment with the ultimate goal of improving air quality for those living near urban

construction sites;

· Signed legislation to appropriate $821 million in no-cost and low-cost loans for crucial clean water

and sewer infrastructure projects across the state. The financing will make available approximately $549

million for clean water project loans and $272 million for drinking water project loans, with the federal

government picking up at least half of the cost;

· Successfully petitioned the federal government to take steps to force the owners of a coal-

powered Pennsylvania power plant to dramatically reduce harmful air emissions that are causing an

even greater public health concern in North Jersey than originally known;

· Currently in federal court to force three other coal-fired power plants in western Pennsylvania to

clean up emissions of pollutants that cause acid rain and degrade air quality in downwind states,

including New Jersey;

· Called on the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to help reduce harmful air emissions and

take approximately 1,000 trucks per day off New Jersey's roads by building a new barge-to-rail facility at

Greenville Yards in Jersey City;



· Adopted rules requiring significant reductions in sulfur content for home heating oil and other

types of fuel oil used in the state to improve air quality and protect public health in New Jersey;

· Have begun aggressively implementing the recommendations of the 15-point plan developed by

the Passaic River Basin Flood Advisory Commission, established by Executive Order to mitigate chronic

flooding problems in the basin;

· Signed legislation creating a free State saltwater fishing registry in New Jersey, allowing New Jersey

anglers to avoid a $15 federal saltwater registration fee;

· Continued to aggressively pursue litigation against the parties responsible for contaminating the

lower Passaic River with dioxin;

· Created Licensed Site Remediation Professionals Board to oversee effective, faster and more

efficient cleanups of thousands of contaminated sites in New Jersey to return them to beneficial reuse.

gov. christie on fracking ban legislation veto

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