Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company LLC (Transco) is planning a Gas Compressor Station in Chesterfield, next to Bordentown, which will feed into a proposed New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG) "Southern Reliability Link" (a 30" High Pressure Gas Pipeline) through Chesterfield, North Hanover, Upper Freehold, Plumsted and Manchester Townships. Watch video
BORDENTOWN - More than 100 people turned out on Saturday for a rally and march to oppose the proposed natural gas pipeline and a related compressor station in Northern Burlington County.
The rally began at noon on the grounds of Holy Cross Lutheran Church on Crosswicks Rd. where Pastor Dan Sparling revealed what he called one of his unique reasons for his opposition, quoting from the Book of Proverbs. "When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices." He explained, "The reason I know this is wrong, the city is not rejoicing"
After remarks by several other speakers, the group turned out onto Crosswicks Rd. with police escort and took to the shoulder of the road chanting slogans and banging percussion instruments along the way.
When they came to the NJ State Turnpike overpass, some paused and two men climbed up to the chain link fence and affixed banners to both sides reading "Garden State Not Pipeline State - Ground Zero 800 ft. with an arrow pointing toward the proposed site further down the road and a photo of an explosion.
Once at the site, the protesters, with prior township approval entered the easement past No Trespassing signs for a few more speakers.
Geoff Richter, Outreach Manager at Pinelands Preservation Alliance, called the proposal for the pipeline to go through Joint Base MDL a violation of the Comprehensive Management Plan. He added that "The Pinelands is the largest contiguous forest between Maine and Florida on the eastern seaboard" calling it "one of the jewels of the east coast."
Activist Patty Cronheim, of Rethink energy NJ, said "The gas that comes from PennEast that would come through these lines would come would produce about 250,000 lbs. of methane per year and that is the equivalent of approximately 21 million tons of carbon. We need to look more at renewables and energy efficiency. It's communities from the highlands to the pinelands that are going to pay the price for private profit."
Michael Mancuso may be reached at mmancuso@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @michaelmancuso Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.