Say Goodbye to the Oyster Creek Nuke and Hello to Offshore Wind

Today’s anticipated decision by the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to issue an RFP for 1100 MW of offshore wind proves the future of clean energy is here and now.

“It is poetic justice that Governor Murphy’s aggressive steps to advance offshore wind happens on the same day that the dilapidated and dangerous Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station is closing permanently,” said Amy Goldsmith, NJ State Director, Clean WATER Action.  “This proves dirty energy can be phased out and replaced with clean renewables.”

Governor Philip Murphy, while in California at the Global Action Climate Summit this weekend, called on the BPU to continue ramp up wind energy in New Jersey by soliciting two additional wind energy projects by 2022. This will bring the state to its targeted 3500-megawatt benchmark by 2030. This is in keeping with Executive Order (EO) 8 that Governor Murphy signed in February. The EO brings back to life the “Offshore  Wind Economic Development Act” which became law in 2010 but remained dormant until now.

“This is a blast of fresh air for our planet and the well being of future generations,” said Janet Tauro, Clean WATER Action NJ Board Chair. “Governor Murphy is charging forward and putting New Jersey on track as an environmental and renewable energy leader. We don’t have a moment to lose.”

Added Goldsmith: “We don’t need more dirty, dangerous nukes. We don’t need more carbon-producing gas plants. And we certainly don’t need spend one penny more of ratepayer dollars on any technology that will not bring us to 100 percent renewables.”

Oyster Creek, the nation’s oldest commercial nuclear reactor, ceased operations Monday. Since going online in 1969, the plant has had numerous safety issues and killed billions of marine life in Barnegat Bay. Its history of radioactive releases, tritium leaks, and metal degradation have been tracked by Clean WATER Action for years.

Over one million pounds of highly radioactive waste has accumulated at Oyster Creek with no set plan in place for its long-term storage.  Some of the materials will remain radioactive for tens of thousands of years.

Also on Monday, a state of emergency was declared at Duke Energy’s Brunswick nuclear plant (1,200-acre complex located 30 miles south of Wilmington, NC) as it is cut off by flood waters due to Hurricane Florence. Workers can not get in or out. They have already been there for days on end with no relief.  “How much more proof do we need that nukes have no place in a world that is being clobbered by climate change,” concluded  Ms. Tauro.

###

Since our founding during the campaign to pass the landmark Clean Water Act in 1972, Clean Water Action has worked to win strong health and environmental protections by bringing issue expertise, solution-oriented thinking and people power to the table. Clean Water Action has more than 100,000 members in New Jersey. www.cleanwater.org/nj