NJ General Election Gubernatorial Candidate Positions on Pilgrim

CAPP has been meeting with 2017 New Jersey gubernatorial candidates to educate them about Pilgrim’s proposed pair of oil pipelines across northern NJ.  Here is the verbal and written position information we have obtained from the candidates, in alphabetical order of the candidate names:

Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno (Republican)

Lt. Governor Guadagno and her staff have had brief exchanges with CAPP but have not held any meetings with CAPP.

Her web site does not specifically mention the Pilgrim Pipeline. http://www.kimfornj.com/on_the_issues

Seth Kaper-Dale (Green)

Reverend Kaper-Dale has stated verbally that he is unconditionally opposed to the Pilgrim Pipeline regardless of the route.

At the New Jersey Working Families Alliance on March 8, Rev. Kaper-Dale made the following statements:

  • He opposes all new proposed pipelines across the board.
  • There must be a moratorium on allowing such new pipelines while at the same time not allowing wind farms and gutting the energy trust fund.

His web site does not specifically mention the Pilgrim Pipeline. https://www.kaperdaleforgovernor.com/environment

Phil Murphy (Democrat)

Mr. Murphy stated at a Sierra Club event in 2016 that he was committed to “embracing solar, wind, a clean energy agenda…pushing back on stuff that is not only bad for the environment but makes no sense — you name the pipeline of your choice.”

CAPP met with Mr. Murphy’s policy advisor on December 1, 2016 and asked for a written statement regarding the proposed Pilgrim Pipeline. On March 2, CAPP received the following statement:

Mr. Murphy has stated that he will make decisions on environmental infrastructure projects in the context of a new energy master plan that takes account of our renewable energy goals.

At the New Jersey Working Families Alliance on March 8, Mr. Murphy made the following statements:

  • He has been pretty negative on all new pipelines proposed in New Jersey.
  • He has not studied the Pilgrim Pipeline at the same level as the PennEast and South Jersey pipelines.
  • No one has been able to make a compelling business case on these pipelines.
  • The environmental concerns and consequences are significant.
  • The only positive element/compelling rationale to these projects is job creation.
  • Through a new energy master plan New Jersey has multiple avenues to create green jobs (smart grid, wind and solar) in the near term.

His web site does not specifically mention the Pilgrim Pipeline. https://www.murphy4nj.com/issues/protecting-the-environment/