Press Releases
September 17, 2007
State’s Largest Electrical Workers Union Joins NJ Affordable, Clean Reliable Energy Coalition
The 35,000-member New Jersey chapter of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and Local Union 1289 has joined the growing membership of the New Jersey Affordable, Clean, Reliable Energy Coalition (NJ ACRE), it was announced today.
With more than 750,000 members throughout the United States and Canada, the IBEW represents workers employed in a variety of industries including utilities, construction, telecommunications, broadcasting, manufacturing, railroads and government.
The leaders of both NJ IBEW and IBEW LU 1289 stressed the important role that Oyster Creek must play in ensuring New Jersey’s energy future and protecting the environment from harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
“The men and women of the NJ IBEW are joining NJ ACRE to support the Coalition’s mission to educate the public about the need to keep existing nuclear power plants, like Oyster Creek, operational,” said Chip Gerrity, president of the NJ IBEW .
Ed Stroup, president of IBEW LU 1289, added that “Our 200 plus members who work at Oyster Creek know first hand that it is a safe, well-managed facility and are keenly aware that nuclear energy helps maintain a strong economy, a clean environment and affordable energy for New Jersey residents and businesses.”
Dr. Edward Salmon, Chairman of NJ ACRE, applauded the NJ IBEW’s decision, citing their shared commitment to raising public awareness about the need for a diversified energy portfolio and policies that protect the environment, meet the state’s rapidly increasing need for electricity, and fuel its growing economy.
“These goals are achievable only when the state’s leading organizations, like the working men and women of the New Jersey IBEW, come together to forge smart and workable solutions,” Dr. Salmon said. “Because clean air and affordable electricity are important for all New Jerseyans, so too must be the development of new renewable energy sources and the continued operation of existing clean sources, like Oyster Creek.”
The Coalition membership, which continues to grow, consists of local and state-wide leaders and leadership organizations representing the environmental, business, labor, academic, health, and civic communities. A list of current members includes:
- • African American Environmentalist Association
- • Chemistry Council of NJ
- • Commerce & Industry Association of NJ
- • Exelon Corporation
- • Fish Hawks (Lacey Township-based organization)
- • International Union of Painters & Allied Trades
- • New Jersey Chamber of Commerce
- • New Jersey Society for Environmental, Economic Development (NJ SEED)
- • NJ Alliance for Action
- • NJ Business & Industry Association
- • New Jersey International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (NJ IBEW and LU 1289)
- • Pasteris Energy, Inc.
- • Plumbers and Pipefitters (Union Local 322 and Local 9)
- • Southern NJ Developmental Council
The Coalition also includes distinguished New Jerseyans such as:
- • The Honorable Jeremiah O'Connor (former State Senator and former New Jersey BPU Commissioner)
- • The Honorable Connie Hughes (former New Jersey BPU Commissioner)
- • The Honorable Carol Murphy (former New Jersey State Legislator & former New Jersey BPU Commissioner)
- • Dr. Fred Abbate (past Executive Director of the New Jersey Utilities Association) • William Young (Former Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy in the U.S. Department of Energy)
- • The Honorable Brian A. Reid (Mayor of Lacey Township)
To learn more, please visit www.NJACRE.org
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The mission of the NJ Affordable, Clean, Reliable Energy Coalition is to generate public support for the production of clean, reliable, affordable, American energy to meet New Jersey's growing energy needs. The Coalition seeks to achieve this goal through increasing the public's awareness of the need to keep existing clean energy providers operational and to promote and support the development of new affordable clean sources.
The Coalition's immediate focus is to generate public support for renewal of the operating license of Oyster Creek Generating Station. The Coalition will increase public awareness about the benefits of Oyster Creek and the important role nuclear power plays in meeting New Jersey's electricity needs.
For more information, please contact:
Maury Donahue
for NJ ACRE
Phone:+1 (856) 308 3656
Maury@njacre.com