By Lauren Wanko
Correspondent
“This is really an abomination, something that should not be undertaken,” said former Gov. Jim Florio.
Florio’s talking about Six Flags Great Adventure’s plan to clear about 18,000 trees on 90 acres of their forest land to construct a solar power system.
“We’re all concerned about climate change. Trees are carbon absorbers. They do a very good job. Cutting down trees will result in erosion, pollution to the water system here,” he said.
“On Earth Day we should be protecting our open spaces and forests and promoting clean energy, not choosing one over the other,” said Doug O’Malley of Environment New Jersey.
Six Flags Great Adventure tells NJTV News they see themselves as good stewards of the environment and already met with an environmental group to discuss their concerns about the project. The park pledged to replant nearly 26,000 trees over a seven-year period.
“Their mitigation plan is glorified landscaping,” O’Malley said.
“Jackson will suffer a deteriorated environment by losing those trees and the oxygen they produce,” said Jackson resident Blanche Krubner.
When asked if he supports solar farms in New Jersey, Florio said, “I do, but they should be placed, it’s state policy they should be placed in appropriate places, not inappropriate places.”
O’Malley says he too supports solar farms and insists Six Flags Great Adventure’s system could be a showcase model if it’s constructed above their parking lot. Six Flags Great Adventure says the parking lot was considered for the project: “However, for many reasons including safety, expansion and space limitations, it was not a feasible location. Solar arrays generate electricity, and as power generators, contain some risk if tampered with by unauthorized personnel. The risk is both to the persons and equipment in such cases. This is one reason why the solar facility is planned for a secure and restricted access area.”
A spokesperson from Six Flags Great Adventure says they were not invited or made aware of today’s event and they welcome the opportunity to meet with environmentalists who share the same goal of a sustainable clean environment. In the meantime O’Malley and others have a Save our Trees campaign in an effort to educate the public of the importance of saving the 18,000 trees.