Winslow, NJ - A coalition of groups representing thousands of businesses and dozens of labor groups urged the Superior Court of New Jersey to uphold a key decision on the South Jersey Gas Cape Atlantic Reliability Project, which ensures energy reliability for thousands of residents and businesses in Cape May and Atlantic counties, and reduces the environmental impacts by converting an aging coal-fired generation facility to cleaner natural gas.
The brief filed yesterday outlines the legal support for the Pinelands Commission's approval of South Jersey Gas' Cape Atlantic Reliability Project earlier this year. The groups have extensive experience and expertise in economic development, job creation and balancing those activities and needs against environmental impacts. In 2016, the same Court affirmed the project is "reasonably necessary for the service, convenience, or welfare of the public."
The Cape Atlantic Reliability Project will provide the former B.L. England electric generation facility in Beesley's Point, Cape May County, with the natural gas supply needed to discontinue the burning of coal at its facility, a major goal of New Jersey's Energy Master Plan. The pipeline will also reinforce the area's access to safe and reliable energy by providing a critical back-up supply route for natural gas to more than 142,000 customers in Cape May and Atlantic counties who are currently served by a single line. The new pipeline will make them far less vulnerable to a service outage in the event of an accident or natural disaster.
"We continue to fight for this long overdue project because it is necessary to help improve our air quality and ensure safe, reliable energy for Southern New Jersey," said Michael Egenton, executive vice president of the New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce. "In addition to providing a reliable, affordable supply of natural gas to the region, the B.L. England plant is located in a critical electric congestion area and is the only major electricity generator in Southeastern New Jersey. Ensuring that this plant continues to generate electricity, and doing it in a more environmentally friendly way, is critical to meeting the needs of this region's residents and business owners."
"We applaud the focus on critical infrastructure improvements that the Cape Atlantic Reliability Project represents for our region," said William Pauls, president of South Jersey Building Trades Council. "Projects like this provide South Jersey residents the energy needed to heat their homes and to power the local economy."
"This project was designed and studied for over four years and will meet or exceed the most stringent state and federal regulations for safety," said Dan Cosner, president of the Southern New Jersey Building Trades Council. "It is time to put a stop to the delays and move forward with improving the air quality by converting the B.L. England facility from coal to cleaner natural gas."
The Building Trades Councils have 19 member unions with a combined total of 35,000 construction workers that live and work throughout Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem counties.
"The Cape May County Chamber of Commerce remains firmly in support of this much-needed project. We understand the environmental and energy reliability benefits it will have for the businesses and residents of this region, and we are proud to do our part in making sure the project moves forward without any further delay," said Vicki Clark, president, Cape May County Chamber of Commerce.
The following list represents individuals and groups who filed the brief:
- New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce
- Southern New Jersey Building Trades Council
- South New Jersey Building Trades Council
- South Jersey Mechanical Contractors Association
- Southern NJ Development Council
- Cape May County Chamber of Commerce
- Greater Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce
"We applaud the focus on critical infrastructure improvements that the Cape Atlantic Reliability Project represents for our region," said William Pauls, president of South Jersey Building Trades Council. "Projects like this provide South Jersey residents the energy needed to heat their homes and to power the local economy."
- New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce
- Southern New Jersey Building Trades Council
- South New Jersey Building Trades Council
- South Jersey Mechanical Contractors Association
- Southern NJ Development Council
- Cape May County Chamber of Commerce
- Greater Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce
We congratulate the young men from Holbrook Little League, Jackson, N.J., for making it to the mountaintop of their sport - the Little League World Series tournament in Williamsport, Pa.
Getting to the World Series is a great achievement considering only eight American teams and eight international teams make it that far. These all-stars, their coaches and their families deserve the honor based on their dedication, hard work and winning 20 of their 21 games this summer.
We wish Holbrook the best of luck in their first game tomorrow afternoon.
To the team, we'd like to say that we will be watching you on ESPN and cheering for you every step of the way! You have much to be proud of and so does all of New Jersey.
It is a fitting tribute to Caren Franzini that the New Jersey Economic Development Authority
headquarters has been named after her.
For two decades, Caren worked tirelessly as head of the EDA.
She was a stalwart in the area of the state's economic development, and her many
accomplishments made an enormous positive impact on thousands of businesses
and the state's economy.
We were all better for knowing Caren and working with her.
It is appropriate that Caren's legacy in New Jersey will now be etched in stone.
- 2017-07-28
New Jersey Chamber of Commerce members exchanged business cards and discussed the latest Chamber programs, events and ways to grow their businesses at a networking event July 26 held in the luxury boxes at Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment.
Business leaders basked in the expansive views of the sports and entertainment complex and New York City as they networked with fellow New Jersey Chamber members over fruit, bagels and pastries.
The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce applauds U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen for his leadership in securing $900 million in funding for the Gateway Project, which will serve to ease the bottleneck that impedes travel to and from Manhattan.
Congressman Frelinghuysen has delivered a much needed investment in our state's economic viability.
In order to grow economically and prosper, New Jersey must have the kind of modern infrastructure that this project will provide. This is exactly this type of investment that will allow our state to attract and retain the businesses that power our state's economic engine.
The N.J. Chamber and its members thank Congressman Frelinghuysen for his vision and leadership, and we ask the members of New Jersey's Senate delegation as well as the President to follow the congressman's lead in championing this essential investment in New Jersey's and our region's future.
The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce is pleased that the budget impasse has ended and the state can return to normal operations.
We are not pleased with the process and dialogue that took place during the approval of this legislation. However, a consensus was reached by constructive dialogue and the Chamber thanks Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey CEO Bob Marino for his engagement with our legislative leaders.
As we said in a previous statement, the shutdown would be temporary, which it was, but the consequences of approving the initially proposed legislation impacting Horizon and other nonprofits could be permanent and devastating.
We believe it is always good policy to fully analyze new legislation to determine its impact before making it law.
One thing is certain - holding face-to-face meetings with all parties involved results in better solutions and needs to become the norm regarding all the issues our state needs to address.
The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce is pleased that the budget impasse has ended and the state can return to normal operations.
We are not pleased with the process and dialogue that took place during the approval of this legislation. However, a consensus was reached by constructive dialogue and the Chamber thanks Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey CEO Bob Marino for his engagement with our legislative leaders.
As we said in a previous statement, the shutdown would be temporary, which it was, but the consequences of approving the initially proposed legislation impacting Horizon and other nonprofits could be permanent and devastating.
We believe it is always good policy to fully analyze new legislation to determine its impact before making it law.
One thing is certain - holding face-to-face meetings with all parties involved results in better solutions and needs to become the norm regarding all the issues our state needs to address.
As the budget deadline approaches today, the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce urges state leaders to act responsibly and do the right thing for all of New Jersey.
We understand the debate continues over the Horizon restructuring legislation (S-4), but that should not stand in the way of passing a responsible budget.
There is no need to rush the Horizon legislation.
The significance of this legislation to the company and to our state's future is so impactful that a full vetting and discussion needs to take place before any final decisions are reached.
On the other hand, if the budget is not passed today, a government shutdown would immediately hurt many people in our state including some of our most vulnerable citizens who rely on state services.
A government shutdown would close a number of beaches and favorite tourist destinations. This would be devastating to our tourism industry during this Fourth of July weekend and cost the state millions of dollars in lost revenue.
The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce urges state leaders to keep the bigger picture in mind and do what is right for all of New Jersey's citizens by passing the budget today.
The NJ Chamber of Commerce staunchly opposes any interference with the daily operation of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey or the acquisition of any of its assets.
We are very disappointed that Senate Bill S-4 was voted out of committee yesterday. We were further disappointed by the votes of some who supported the bill.
The problem addressed does not require legislation. There are many other reasonable, ethical and viable solutions that have not even been considered.
We believe the victims of this legislation will far outnumber the proposed beneficiaries.
The ramifications of S-4 are so broad and far reaching that it must have a more thorough analysis of its impact. It should not be rushed through the legislature during the waning days of the state budget deliberations.
We believe a thorough analysis of this legislation would show a vast number of negative and unintended consequences resulting from its passage including:
- the future financial viability of Horizon, the state's largest health insurer;
- the impact on Horizon's 3.8 million policyholders which represent one-third of the state's population;
- the criteria by which the Department of Banking and Insurance would be allowed to reach into other non-profits is ill-defined;
- the impact on New Jersey's ability to attract and retain businesses in a state that desperately needs growth;
- the impact on our state image and the free enterprise system functioning within the state.
The NJ Chamber realizes that by not passing this legislation there is the potential of a government shutdown.
The shutdown will be temporary. The negative impact of this legislation will be permanent.
It will cause businesses to shut down, jobs to be lost, significant economic distress and serve as a blow to our state's reputation as "business-friendly."
We believe the negative ramifications of this legislation could greatly impede any hope our state has of regaining a decent level of economic prosperity.
For these reasons we strongly urge Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto to hold the line and not post this bill for consideration at this time.
The 30-year Lottery Enterprise Contribution will reduce the pension system`s unfunded liability, elevate its funded ratio and reduce the General Fund obligation - thereby helping transform New Jersey`s fiscal outlook.
Also, the treasurer has indicated that this transaction will not impact recipients of lottery funds, which adds to the viability of this proposal.
This is a significant step in solving our pension crisis.
We hope our pensioners view this positively and assist in solving the crisis by modifying the healthcare component of their pension.
We encourage the state Legislature to support this proposal.
- 2017-06-14
Guadagno, Murphy Join Our Party Two Days after their Primary Victories
Two of the special guests attending the 20th annual NJ Chamber Open House in Trenton on June 8 were Republican Kim Guadagno and Democrat Phil Murphy. Fresh off their primary victories, the major party gubernatorial candidates mingled with New Jersey Chamber of Commerce members, as well as dozens of state legislators, county executives and mayors. The candidates even took a few minutes to congratulate each other, and pose together for a few photos.