By Larry Higgs | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
NJ Transit officials outlined a plan to find engineers and consultants with the expertise to design the $577 million Transitgrid back-up power system in Kearny in as green a way as possible, with a goal of awarding a construction contract in Dec. 2022.
However, a gas power plant is not entirely off the table, if a suitable design can’t be found, officials said.
Agency officials provided a road map on Wednesday night about how that’s going to happen, after hearing some praise from environmentalists who lobbied for a year and a half to scuttle a planned natural gas fired power plant.
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“We are so glad to hear your new commitment to renewable energy,” said Janet Glass of North Bergen, one of hundreds who opposed the plant. “New Jersey could be making history. Thank you for listening and I urge you to stick with it.”
The 140 megawatt generator is part of the larger NJ Transitgrid Power System, a $577 million project that would provide electricity to Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor, parts of NJ Transit’s Morris and Essex lines and the Hudson-Bergen light rail in case of a power outage. The project is partly funded with $410 million in federal Hurricane Sandy resiliency funds.
The agency is taking several steps to follow through, voting unanimously Wednesday night to create a $3 million incentive to encourage companies with expertise and experience in renewable energy to participate.
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