Pipeline Policy - Not All Counties Are Created Equal

by: KendalJames

Tue Feb 08, 2011 at 01:50:25 PM EST

But Hudson County? No soup for you! Despite a sustained and boisterous outcry from residents, activists, politicians (iike anti-pipeline firestarter JC Councilman Steven Fulop), Major Jeremiah Healy, the Sierra Club and the state DEP, Spectra Energy's proposed pipeline through Jersey City is still very much a go.  And despite all the reasons to NOT build a 30" pipeline through the heart of one of NJ's most densely populated areas (explosions, airborne toxins, decreased property values and a laundry list of others), Governor Christie failed to file for Intervenor status with the Federal Energy Regulation Commission before the January 26 deadline. Now Spectra Energy is using flimsy claims of job creation as their latest diversion/stalling tactic. They seem happy to fend off the rabble for a short while longer, knowing that if Governor Christie does not speak up, the project will cross the rubicon all nice and neat-like.

Christie's reasons for killing the LNG project were solid. The same ones apply to the Spectra Energy gas pipeline proposed to run through JC. Why the inconsistency?