Tom Nobile reports for the North Jersey Record
A marching protest to “Save Our Lungs” by blocking a controversial power plant proposal in the Meadowlands drew hundreds of protesters to Ridgefield High School on Saturday, who sought to press Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration into rescinding permits granted to the project.
The march featured a strong contingent of local high school students from across the county, who partnered with environmental organizations such as the Sierra club and Food and Water Watch to rally against the gas-fired power plant in an area already graded an ‘F’ for clean air by the America Lung Association.
Federal data shows that the plant, slated for North Bergen, would likely pump millions of tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, enough to become the highest emitter of carbon dioxide in the state, tied with the Phillips 66 Bayway Refinery in Linden.
“Today we live in a world where we have to fight for the privilege to breathe clean air,” Yoon Yung Kim, a high school student, said Saturday. “No amount of money is worth risking our lungs and our health.”
A collage of signs filled Ridgefield’s streets on Saturday as protesters embarked on a march from the high school to the plant’s proposed site less than a mile away. Horns honked and residents waved from their windows to chants of “It’s not fair, we need clean air” and “Hey Governor Murphy, don’t do us dirty.”
“Speak now or forever hold your breath,” one sign read.
“I am committed to protesting and marching until this project is finally rejected,” said Arturo Garcia, a Ridgefield student who helped organize the march.
The plant, dubbed the North Bergen Liberty Generating station, is proposed by Diamond Generating Corp, a subsidiary of Mitsubishi.
To date, more than 40 towns have passed resolutions against it, including mayors of many Meadowlands communities along with the Bergen County League of Municipalities.
