NEW JERSEY – Senator Latham Tiver (R-08) and Assemblyman Michael Torrissi Jr. (R-08) will introduce legislation aimed at speeding up the construction of new power plants to battle New Jersey’s energy affordability crisis.
The bill targets regulation changes to air quality permits, which need to be obtained by any business or operation that uses equipment that releases air pollutants. Under the proposed law, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection would have 90 days to approve or deny an air quality permit or else it would be automatically approved.
“Any power plant, dry cleaner, asphalt plant, quarry – you name it – has to obtain an air quality permit. While that’s a good thing for our environment, what’s not good is the DEP’s approval process can take up to two years. That is unacceptable when we are in dire need of energy generation,” Senator Tiver said.
“My bill with Assemblyman Torrissi would strongly encourage the DEP to speed up its review process so energy generators, and other businesses, are not bogged down by years-long review processes, Tiver said. “This state needs to produce, not block production with endless bureaucracy.”
“States like Pennsylvania have no problem approving or denying air quality permits in a timely manner so power plants can get on with providing energy to residents. It’s no wonder why electric prices are skyrocketing in New Jersey, our regulators drag their feet on these important approvals,” Torrissi said.
“It’s time to cut red tape in this state so we can begin to fix the affordability crisis,”Torrissi said.
