Business owners and citizens unite against PennEast pipeline

A group of 70 business owners have recently voiced their economic concerns about the proposed PennEast pipeline in a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Stating that "our businesses, our livelihoods, and our families cannot afford the financial risks that PennEast would bring to our region," the group have urged FERC to reject PennEast's application. The letter is the latest in an outpouring of opposition to PennEast.

A bipartisan group of federal and state legislators, homeowners, conservation groups and local leaders have expressed their ongoing concerns – for example, that the PennEast application is incomplete, misleading and lacks sufficient basis for moving forward.

The letter was delivered in the midst of an official comment period on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for PennEast, which ends on 12 September 2016. FERC is holding public meetings as part of the comment period on 15, 16 and 17 August.

The 70 business owners wrote that PennEast "does not consider the economic harms and costs to local businesses that would result from construction of the pipeline, such as disruptions to local businesses, loss of productive farmland, reductions in property values, impacts to local tourism and degraded water quality that we all depend upon to draw countless people to our area."

"As a medical professional, my patients' health is my first priority. This pipeline threatens their access to care as well as the broader health of our community and environment. The disruption caused by PennEast would jeopardise our health, safety and livelihoods, for a pipeline we don't even need. I urge all concerned citizens to join us in standing up against this unnecessary fossil fuel project," said Dr Jennifer Fisher, a chiropractor in Pennington and one of the 70 business owners who signed the collective letter to FERC.

Concerned community members are encouraged to join these business owners by attending one of two public opposition events taking place on 16 and 17 August. The meetings will allow the public to express their concerns about PennEast's DEIS, which FERC released for public comment on 22 July.

"FERC is clearly trying to discourage the thousands of citizens who oppose PennEast by holding its public meetings during the height of vacation season and Labor Day and changing its meetings locations at the last minute," said Tom Gilbert, campaign Director for Rethink Energy NJ and New Jersey Conservation Foundation. "We urge all who are opposed to this unneeded pipeline to join us at these opposition events and public meetings. Together we must hold FERC accountable and protect our land, water and communities."

Adapted from press release by

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/project-news/15082016/business-owners-and-citizens-unite-against-penneast-pipeline/