Advocates press Newark council to adopt 'Newark Fossil Free Future' ordinance to block new fossil‑fuel facilities

Environmental and community advocates urged the North Municipal Council to move swiftly on a pair of agenda items they described as the Newark Fossil Free Future ordinance.

Kim Gaddy of the South Ward Environmental Alliance said the ordinance — which was deferred in the premeeting — would address long‑standing environmental health disparities in the South and East Wards and reduce emissions from nearby port facilities. She also raised a separate consumer complaint about a towing company and called for a council investigation into towing practices that she said disproportionately affect Black and brown residents.

Dr. Leah Owens, a policy analyst for the same alliance, outlined the ordinance’s two core provisions: amending zoning and land‑use rules to prohibit new or expanded fossil‑fuel facilities (she cited petroleum bulk stations and fossil‑fuel generation sites as examples) and amending finance and taxation codes to prohibit public investments in fossil‑fuel facilities. "By prohibiting public investments in fossil fuel facilities, this ordinance ensures our resources are directed toward clean energy solutions," Owens said.

Advocates told the council they view the ordinance as both a public‑health and an environmental‑justice measure: Dr. Owens said Newark already hosts seven fossil‑fuel facilities and another proposed site, and argued zoning and public‑investment restrictions would reduce hazardous air emissions and truck traffic that contribute to asthma and other illnesses.

Council procedure: the transcript shows council staff and the president acknowledging that the fossil‑free items were deferred earlier in the day and that a follow‑up meeting with advocates (including Kim Gaddy) would be scheduled to clarify scope, implementation and whether municipal fleet purchases would be affected.

What was not decided: the council did not vote on adoption during the Nov. 25 meeting; advocates requested a meeting with the BA (business administrator) and staff to address technical questions such as whether the ordinance would prohibit city purchases of gasoline‑powered cars or target only specific classes of facilities. The council asked staff to return with clarifications and to meet with advocates before bringing the item back to the agenda.

Next steps: advocates and council members said they would hold a working meeting to resolve outstanding policy questions before the ordinance is returned for formal action.