Comments on Draft Air Pollution Control Operating Permit for Passaic Valley Sewage Commission

Clean Energy Group submitted comments to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection regarding the Draft Air Pollution Control Operating Permit Significant Modification, issued to the Passaic Valley Sewage Commission (PVSC). CEG points out that PVSC has not provided sufficient evidence that their proposed combustion turbines are necessary to meet the anticipated maximum energy demand during a power outage. CEG also argues that gas-powered generation is less reliable in extreme weather conditions and asserts that solar combined with long-duration energy storage would be a feasible, cleaner and more reliable option. CEG also opposes PVSC’s potential plan to transition the natural gas turbines to green hydrogen. CEG strongly recommends that the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection rescind the Draft Permit and direct PVSC to explore the feasibility of clean energy alternatives, primarily solar and battery storage.