Fourth Power Plant Approved in Newark Despite Residents' Tearful Protests

"The New Jersey city will see another power plant built, a resource the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission decided was necessary to prevent outages in the face of storms." 

"The Ironbound neighborhood in Newark, N.J., has two distinct sections: an immigrant-rich area of rowhouses, ethnic restaurants and shops, and a clogged industrial zone with three power plants, the state’s largest incinerator and biggest sewage facility, a slew of factories and a near-constant parade of diesel trucks. 

And now, there will be a fourth power plant.

The Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission gave the green light to the plant late Thursday in spite of passionate and even tearful objections of dozens of current and former residents, public officials, clergy, physicians and health care workers and people who live and work nearby. 

For more than five hours, the opponents expressed dismay about the harmful health impacts of living with so much pollution. They urged the commission to reject the proposal of a gas-powered plant for cleaner sources such as solar and battery power."

Emilie Lounsberry reports for Inside Climate News June 13, 2025.

Source: Inside Climate News, 06/17/2025