More Stormy Weather For Christie and His Cronies-Pinelands Project Goes Down

[Laxman]

This is lightning striking near the Beesley's Point Generating station in Cape May County, NJ. This is an old coal fired plant that used to be owned by a legitimate utility-the Atlantic City Electric Company. It was nearing the end of its useful life when it was sold by the utility to a private equity firm, Rockland Capital Energy Investments, LLC. It's listed as one of the firm's assets here. Rockland's managing partner, Scott Harlan, used to work for our friends and enthusiastic Christie backers, Koch Industries.



Recently, New Jersey utility South Jersey Gas sought to construct a gas transmission pipeline that would bring natural gas (derived from fracking in Pennsylvania) to the plant, which is also known as the B.L.England Generating station. Bringing gas to the plant would allow Rockland to convert the plant from coal to gas and presumably make a better return off of their investment in the aging power station. In fact, without the conversion, the plant may have to be shut down.

There was a problem however. The pipeline would need to be routed through a portion of the NJ Pinelands. If you're not from NJ, you have to realize this is a magical place. This is an environmentally sensitive area that covers a large part of southern New Jersey that is recognized to be of global significance. It was named the nation's first biosphere reserve. In fact, protecting the Pinelands was so important, the state passed some of the most restrictive land use laws in the nation and created a special commission to govern the region. The Pinelands Commission has been around since 1979 and is considered one of the leading examples of regional planning protecting environmental resources. Cue Governor Chris Christie and his crew.

The pipeline wouldn't be able to go through environmentally valuable areas without the approval of the Pinelands Commission. An application was made for permission to route the pipeline through the Pines. Who represented B.L. England before the Commission? Whoever said Wolff & Samson, pour yourself a drink. That's the same Wolff & Samson you can read about here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024322305 . There was a great deal of opposition to this proposal. As is their nature, the Christie administration began to put the screws to the Commissioners in an attempt to grease the skids. Their handpicked Executive Director of the Commission, Nancy Wittenberg, alarmingly made public statements urging the commissioners to approve the project. The problem was that the vote wasn't taken until the day after the GWB story broke.

The project went down by a 7-7 vote. By the rules of the commission, in order for any motion to pass the commission, there must be a minimum number of affirmative votes. 7 is not the number. Even after strong-arming one of the commissioners who was a sure "no" vote into recusal, they couldn't muster the necessary votes. I believe directly related to what took place with the GWB. For one of the first times in nearly 5 years of his reign of terror, Emperor Christie did not get his way. Hopefully, another chink in his armor. However, this was yet another example of him trying to intimidate and control an independent commission and using his appointed executive director to try and get his way.

This is yet another look into the Christie web and what they are wont to do. Here its Christie, the Koch Brothers, private equity, and of course Wolff & Samson. They were willing to jeopardize a state, national and global environmental treasure to facilitate a better return on investment for an aging power plant. I guess it was good to be friends with the emperor. Its not over yet, by rule the minutes of the Commission must be approved by the Governor before they take effect. Christie can still veto the minutes and send the matter back for their consideration. Luckily, he isn't exactly looking more powerful in the days since this vote was taken. The more people think the emperor has no clothes, the more we can continue to break free from his grip. The Pinelands is one of those places that, even if you don't live nearby or will never visit, you should be happy is protected. Here's to hoping it remains safe from a governor with no morals.

[Beach Rat]

1. I got a speeding ticket on the Parkway

Should I hire Wolff & Samson to get me out of it?

[Cha]

2. thanks Laxman!

[Laxman]

7. We've Just Got To Keep Chopping Away...

every swing takes something out of this guy. He didn't make a lot of friends along the way in his first term (or the rest of his public life for that matter) and as his vulnerability starts to show a lot of people are going to be looking to get even. This is NJ after all-we don't get mad.

As for the Pinelands, since 1979 there have been Democratic and Republican governors. Although they have varied in their environmental records, they have never acted as though being anti-environment, and certainly not anti Pinelands protection, is acceptable. Enter Governor Christie who just doesn't care.

[Cha]

11. I agree and I thank you for being one who is

doing the FACT Hammering! So many things coming out.. not just about his bully spawns closing down the GWB for days to cause "traffic problems to Ft Lee".

Yeah, his pack of geniuses didn't think about all the other shite that would manifest as a result of their sick games.

[okaawhatever]

3. Another good thing to come out of this is the Koch Brothers didn't get their way with Christie. They

will either double down and try to get him out of trouble so he can strong arm the commission for another round of voting, or they'll put their money elsewhere. Let's hope it's the latter.


I think the mob guys used to dump bodies there. I saw it in the Sopranos anyway. (Not trying to give Christie any ideas)

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

4. An apt description-Governor Christie and his "crew"

That was the episode where they went to dispose of the Russian guy-only he wasn't quite dead yet. They said it was the Pinelands but it wasn't really filmed there.

b/t/w/ I love lightning pictures!

[okaawhatever]

5. haha...yes that's the exact episode I was thinking of. It was so funny the back and forth of what

they needed to do.

[xfundy]

6. Man up, Pinelands!

Quit being so "environmental" and so "sensitive!" Quit being a girly man and accept the toxic chemicals so some assholes can make a profit!

[OriginalGeek]

8. Seriously doe

toxic chemicals NEVER accidentally spill....safer than babies at a 500 doller restaurant!

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

9. Interesting Choice of Words-Pinelands Project Goes Down!

Something's going down tonight and it ain't jobs!

What a wonderful man.

[Beach Rat]

13. Do you get the feeling watching that video

that Mitt Romney is saying "what does he mean when he says something's going down?"

[Oilwellian]

10. The Pinelands is where the dead fishes go

[Laxman]

12. One More Thing....

I forgot to throw in the fact that Pinelands Commission Executive Director Nancy Wittenberg used to be the chief attorney for the New Jersey Home Builders Association. Yet another example of the incestuous circle of special interests that is the Christie administration.

[Laxman]

14. And another thing!

UPPER TOWNSHIP – A proposal to build a natural gas pipeline through the Pinelands to the BL England power plant in Beesleys Point was effectively denied Friday after the New Jersey Pinelands Commission voted 7-7 on a Memorandum of Agreement to allow the project to move forward.

Opponents of the pipeline cheered when the votes were counted. They said they were surprised by the outcome and grateful. Some asked for the resignation of Pinelands Commission executive director Nancy Wittenberg.

The tie vote means the proposal cannot move forward, according to Pinelands Commission members.

With the pipeline proposal defeated, the future of the BL England power plant is now up in the air. The plant was required by an Administrative Consent Order with the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to shut down one coal burner. It planned to repower a second coal burner and an oil burning unit with natural gas as part of a $400 million conversion plan.

Link to the article: http://www.shorenewstoday.com/snt/news/index.php/upper-township/upper-township/48365-fate-of-bl-england-plant-up-in-the-air-after-pinelands-pipeline-denied.html

I'd love to know who's money Rockland invested in this plant. If it shuts down, I'll bet some powerful people will stand to lose big. On a down note, there's probably some tax loophole that will let them win even if they lose.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

15. Reminds me of Jeb Bush and the deal on the cement plant near the Ichetucknee River

http://www.sptimes.com/2002/10/14/news_pf/State/An_unnatural_silence.shtml

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/misc.activism.progressive/EqEyOpifyQs


THE GOVERNOR
Jeb Bush was the Co-Chairman of the Florida Republican Party Committee
to Elect George W. Bush President of the United States.
THE VOTE
Florida Governor Jeb Bush held a special meeting of the Florida
Cabinet and put the "deal" to a vote, which was 3 to 3, with the
Governor casting the deciding vote to break the tie and approve the
cement plants construction and operation.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Within two days of the decision to approve the Anderson Mining cement
plant, almost $190,000 in campaign contributions flowed into the
Florida Republican Party. Records show that the largest amount,
$78,000 was donated by principles associated with Anderson Mining.
The D.E.P. has already fines the cement plant over $20,000 for
violations.
___________________________________________________________________________________

I'm still wondering how in the hell Jeb ever got away with that one.

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

16. This is kind of interesting

From the Texas Energy Report news clips: http://www.texasenergyreport.com/NewsClips/NewsClips.cfm

Do you think these guys read DU?

CRITICS LINK BRIDGE SCANDAL TO PINELANDS PIPELINE PROJECT

With an impending vote Friday by the state Pinelands Commission to allow a natural gas pipeline to supply the BL England power station, opponents sought to link the project to Gov. Chris Christie’s bridge-traffic scandal — through David Samson, Christie’s appointee to the Port Authority, and a lawyer for the power plant owners. As the George Washington Bridge traffic inquiries engulfed Christie’s inner circle, pipeline critics Thursday seized on Samson’s connection to Rockland Capital, the Texas-based company that paid $12 million for the 50-year-old, coal-fired power station in upper Cape May County and hopes to rebuild the site as a full-time, gas-fired generator, supplied by South Jersey Gas.

[ProSense]

17. Excellent post. n/t

[FarCenter]

18. If they close this plant and the Oyster Creek nuclear station, they can shut down Atlantic City

Atlantic City doesn't have a reason to exist anyway. It is just a sinkhole for state subsidies.

[Laxman]

19. Atlantic City Electric...

is still connected to the grid via the PJM Interconnection. And Oyster Creek will be closing relatively soon. Hopefully before some kind of accident happens there.

For all its faults, the city still generates a fair amount of casino money that goes into the Casino Redevelopment agency. Where does the Christie administration have that money going these days might be a useful inquiry as well.

[ProSense]

20. Influence Pipeline: Christie Administration Tried To Jam Through Project To Benefit Top Operative...

Influence Pipeline: Christie Administration Tried To Jam Through Project To Benefit Top Operative, Officials Allege
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/01/15/3154571/christie-pipeline-pressure/

[Laxman]

21. Just An FYI

Wolff & Samson apparently represented Silverstein Properties, the developer of the World Trade Center site. David Samson had to recuse himself on Port Authority matters involving Silverstein:

Samson, who recused himself 52 times, noted that recusals are up to individual commissioners. He said that, out of caution, he recused himself from matters where he had even tenuous outside ties that would not have affected his judgment. But some ties were more direct.

Samson is a partner at the law firm Wolff & Samson, which previously represented Silverstein Properties, the company that is building part of the World Trade Center site and was locked in tense negotiations with the Port Authority before Samson joined the board. The firm also served as bond counsel for the South Jersey Transportation Authority, which recently agreed to hand over operational control of the Atlantic City Airport to the Port Authority.

Silverstein Properties submitted an RFP for Fort Lee's Redevelopment Area 5. See here: http://www.fortleenj.org/index.php/downloadable-documents/category/40-responses-to-requests-for-proposals.html

Theirs was not the successful proposal. Do not know if Wolff & Samson represented Silverstein at the time they submitted this RPF.