Politics & Government

Township Seeks Support for New Generation Facility Upon Oyster Creek's Closure

Lacey Township calls on Birdsall Services Group to complete a feasibility study for $22,500

The Lacey Township Committee has requested the freeholders' and 9th District legislators' support for a conceptual plan for a new power generation facility to replace Oyster Creek.

“We’re trying to get all the support we can from every avenue we can,” Mayor Mark Dykoff said, commending Committeeman David Most for his efforts to bring a new facility to Lacey. “We think it’s very important to secure the building of any facility in Lacey Township, and this is a very important one. This is only the next step.”

The governing body passed a resolution asking for support whose purpose was to show the committee's unity on the issue, township Administrator Veronica Laureigh said.

Find out what's happening in Laceywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The resolution asks for the county and state governing bodies to petition the Board of Public Utilities and the State’s Energy Master Plan Committee for a new power generation facility at 798 South Main Street (Block 1001, lot 4.06), which is owned by JCP&L.

As part of an agreement with the State of New Jersey, Oyster Creek Generating Station, the oldest operating nuclear plant in the country, will be closing in 2019. As a result, tax revenue to Lacey Township will be reduced and a loss of jobs will have a negative economic impact on the local area, the resolution states.

Find out what's happening in Laceywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Exelon Corporation, owner and operator of the plant, paid $2,075,609.60 in taxes in 2011. The plant employs nearly 700 workers and provides enough around-the-clock electricity for 600,000 New Jersey homes.

The committee also has shown concern that the state will continue to chip away at its yearly e once Oyster Creek closes, which accounts for 42.6 percent of the municipal budget.

"We're looking at Oyster Creek closing down in seven years," Most said. "That's a pretty short time. Looking out for the town is definitely what we're going to do."

The land where the committee is seeking to build a new plant is the site of the former Forked River Nuclear Generating Station, which was under construction in the late 1970s and abandoned in the 1980s.

“Whereas, with the existing infrastructure and available connection to the electrical transmission line, the JCP&L site is well suited for a power generation facility and whereas the economic value, generation capacity and reliability of a future generation station have proven crucial to sustain our communities and energy needs for Ocean County,” the resolution says.

The township is currently working with Birdsall Services Group to complete a feasibility study for $22,500, Laureigh said. The study will provide an assessment of existing conditions, development constraints and permitting requirements.

The feasibility study is an example of the township putting “its best foot forward,” Most said. It will determine options and bring all parties involved, from real estate agents to interested buyers, together, he added.

“I’m reaching out to different companies interested in this,” Most said. The study will enable the township to “talk more intelligently about this and give (companies) details rather than being vague.”

Although the type of generating facility has yet to be determined, natural gas seems to make the most sense and renewable energy would not be feasible for the land use or base load requirements, Most said.

“It’s important to get all the opinions of the local government and gather as much support as possible for the process,” Most said. “We’re serious about it. We want to plan for the future and financial security of Lacey Township.”

Most said the process is a long one and he has been attending energy symposiums and networking in the meantime.

“We’re marketing the piece of property to benefit the residents, community, county and the state,” he said.

Lacey Township was included in the state’s Energy Master Plan as a footnote, outlining the importance of replacing Oyster Creek’s capacity once the plant closes, board spokesperson Greg Reinert

“There are a number of good reasons to locate a new plant on the Lacey Township property, including the presence of a highly skilled workforce, community support for such an initiative, and the existing electrical transmission infrastructure,” the plan states.

Reinert emphasized that the plan encourages the state to replace the station’s generation, not the plant.

“The EMP only talks about energy and where it comes from and does not propose a new plant,” Reinert said.

“There’s no way to say where it’s going to be built,” he said. “Generation is deregulated. We can’t order generation to be built necessarily. Someone would have to be interested in building generation there… We’re working with those interests.“

In order to garner support from the County, the Board of Chosen Freeholders will have to vote, County Administrator Carl Block said.

The county received the resolution and a letter from Most, county Administrator Carl Block said. A resolution will be presented to the freeholders to discuss their position at next week’s meeting on Wednesday, May 9.

The freeholders will have to discuss the issue further at a pre-board meeting and gather more details before voting and commenting, Block said.

Dykoff pointed out that the township already has the support of Congressman Jon Runyan. Runyan expressed that support at a after reaching out to Gov. Chris Christie and meeting with Commissioner Bob Martin of the Department of Environmental Protection on the issue.

Representatives from the state’s 9th Legislative District did not return calls for comment.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here