TRENTON, NJ – Republicans in Trenton blocked a pair of Phil Murphy nominees to the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) in response to what is being described as the governor’s ‘energy extremism” after ignoring calls to halt an offshore wind farm survey project.
That project is being blamed by shore officials and some environmental groups for the unusually high increase in whale and dolphin deaths at the Jersey Shore.
“Governor Murphy dumped two BPU commissioners for having the gall to criticize his extreme Energy Master Plan. There were no Republican votes today to confirm replacements who would be nothing more than a rubber stamp for his dangerous and expensive energy policy,” Senator Anthony Bucco said. “The governor’s energy extremism is on clear display with his failure to pause offshore wind farm survey work as dozens of dead whales and dolphins have washed up on our shores. We need reasonable people in BPU positions who are willing to stand up to the governor in times like these to ensure that we’re not doing more harm than good to the environment.”
Bucco and Republicans objected to allowing Governor Murphy to continue to appoint environmental extremists to the important BPU board.