NJNG Announces Plan to Begin Construction on SRL Pipeline in South Jersey

On Monday, New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG) plans to begin work installing gas lines that are part of its highly controversial Southern Reliability Link project.

As the Plumsted Township notice points out, the project “is still under litigation and pending in the courts.”

Lena Smith, Senior Organizer at Food & Water Watch, issued the following statement in response to the news:

“For years, New Jersey Natural Gas has run roughshod over our communities in pursuit of their own profits. The fate of this dangerous pipeline has yet to be determined, but the company is moving forward as a way to get around any likelihood of courts ruling against them.

“Governor Murphy ran on the promise of addressing climate change, but has done very little to address the expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure in the state. Governor Murphy could halt the Pinelands Pipelines by enacting a moratorium on fossil fuel infrastructure. He must do this to avert further climate disasters.”

Agnes Marsala, activist and organizer of People Over Pipelines, also spoke out against the move:

“This is outrageous and disheartening. After years of residents speaking out against this project, to see New Jersey Resources moving forward in spite of ongoing litigation shows once again that they are not a community partner. They are going behind our backs in the dead of night. It’s a devious move. If Governor Murphy would declare a moratorium they wouldn’t be able to do this. He could stop this here, today.

“We supported Governor Murphy and have been disappointed in his inaction on climate change. He could have and should have by this time enacted a moratorium on all new fossil fuel infrastructure. We are counting on him to fulfill his promises and put a stop to the damage to our environment done by 8 years of Chris Christie.”

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