Pallone Asks NJ Transit and NJ Board of Public Utilities to Reject Monmouth County Reliability Project

Long Branch - This week, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) sent letters to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities and NJ transit asking that they reject the Monmouth County Reliability Project (MCRR). The Congressman's request comes after Judge Gail Cookson last week ruled against the proposed MCPR. Without NJ Transit and NJPBU's approval the MCRP cannot move forward. The plan for JCP&L's new transmission line would impact Aberdeen, Hazlet and Middletown in Pallone's district and run along New Jersey Transit's North Jersey Coast line.

Last week after Judge Cookson ruling Pallone stated "My opposition to this project has always stemmed from two primary issues; my belief that the MCRP is not a cost-effective way to ensure reliability in Monmouth County, and the near universal opposition from the communities that would be affected by this project. As Judge Cookson explained, JCP&L has not seriously considered alternatives and ignored non-transmission solutions entirely. The decision only supports my long-held suspicion that MCRP is more about rate of return for shareholders than reliability for consumers."

Pallone has long voiced concerns with JCP&L's proposal and called on JCP&L to withdraw the project last year.