“In a city struggling to dig out from under decades of environmental injustices, the state’s greenlighting of Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission’s construction of Newark’s fourth gas-fueled power plant comes as an assault that we are prepared to fight in court.

“Already fouled by New Jersey’s largest garbage incinerator, choked daily by diesel fumes from thousands of container trucks, littered with more than its share of smokestacks and toxic refuse, Newark considers this decision a slap in the face to every resident. We deserve better.

“Standing solid for the people of Newark, I wholly reject this decision and demand that PVSC’s storm-related backup power source needs be met with clean, renewable energy and grid-hardening technologies that will not threaten our health and exacerbate the climate crisis.

“To repeat what I have said in letters to Governor Phil Murphy, statements to the media and public comments: Newark will not abide by any discriminatory energy project that inflicts further harm upon our residents and the workers who come here to invigorate the State’s economy.

“There are viable alternatives to a gas-powered plant. There is a compassionate alternative to oppression. And there are easier and less disruptive alternatives to litigation.”

̶   NEWARK   ̶

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