NO Gas Pipeline Says Spectra's Jersey City Jobs are More Gas

By Dale Hardman

I question Spectra Energy's job figures for Jersey City. The lack of jobs and economic impact by Spectra's pipeline proposal compared to just one property owned by the LeFrak Organization along the pipeline route is  clear.
 
Spectra thinks that Jersey City can be bought off with pipeline promises that are lose, lose  when it comes to jobs and economic development. Most of these jobs Spectra promises will be filled by those not residents in Jersey City who will relocate from outside here and brought in by Spectra to stay at best only two years. Also, other employee hires are limited to Union rules, especially seniority, and may come from New York and other areas.

Spectra says 2,300 jobs in Jersey City

Spectra Energy recently sent out a postcard throughout all of Jersey City prior to the intervenor deadline of January 26.The post card featured a smiling child who Spectra says is the child of one of their employees.

According to Spectra, their New Jersey - New York Pipeline Expansion Project "during the next five years...direct and indirect New Jersey jobs will be created as a result of this project - including 2,300 jobs in Jersey City alone...A bulk of those jobs will be created next year and in 2013....this pipeline could...bring millions of new property tax dollars to Jersey City."

LeFrak says 13,000 jobs over 20 years for Jersey City "could generate as much as $1.4 billion in tax revenue"

Meanwhile, the same business school Spectra used at Rutger's for jobs and economic development projections, has also done a study for the LeFrak Organization of their Newport property along the Hudson River waterfront to project the economic impact of commercial and residential development along the proposed pipeline route. LeFrak found that it could generate as much as $1.4 billion in tax revenue and 13,000 jobs over twenty years.

The LeFrak Organization, which planned the massive development in the northern Newport waterfront area along the propose pipeline route, has already come out against the pipeline strongly in a formal filing to intervene before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

FERC regulates interstate pipelines and intervenors have legal standing to sue in Federal Court to overturn rulings. The Environmental Law Center also filed to intervene on behalf of national groups local chapters such as the Sierra Club, Food, Water & Watch group and NO Gas Pipeline as well.

Find out what NO Gas Pipeline blogs say further here at
nogaspipeline.org and NYC United For Action unitedforaction.org