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Neighbors and environmental groups press Newark council to adopt 'Fossil Free Future' ordinance to block new major fossil‑fuel facilities
Summary
Environmental and parent‑advocate groups urged the council to advance the Newark Fossil Free Future ordinance to prevent construction or expansion of major fossil‑fuel facilities inside the city; council moved the bills to first reading and requested an impact analysis from administration.
Several advocacy groups and parents urged the council on Dec. 17 to pass a local ordinance that would halt public funding and land‑use approval for new or expanded major fossil‑fuel facilities in Newark.
Kim Gaddy, executive director of the South Ward Environmental Alliance, told the council the coalition had worked for months on two ordinances (referred to in public comment as titles related to 'Fossil Free Future') that would amend land‑use codes, prevent public funds from supporting new or expanded polluting infrastructure and require clear definitions and enforcement. Gaddy said the proposal would affect seven facilities citywide and advance environmental justice by reducing pollution burdens in frontline neighborhoods.
Parents and community groups — including Story and Hope North Inc. and Parents Engaging Parents — described higher asthma rates and hospitalization among Newark children and framed the ordinance as a health and equity measure rather than an anti‑development policy. Several speakers urged the council to keep community voices central as the ordinance proceeds.
Council president and council members agreed to advance the item to first reading and several councilmembers asked the administration to prepare an analysis of potential citywide impacts before the next discussion. The council recorded the motion to advance the pending business items related to fossil‑fuel generation (items 9a and 9b on the agenda).
Advocates asked for robust enforcement language and for the administration to spell out how the ordinance would interact with state permitting and the Port Authority’s infrastructure plans. On the record, supporters emphasized the ordinance does not shut down existing facilities but aims to prevent future expansions and to shift public investment toward clean alternatives.
Next steps: the council moved the measures to first reading and asked the administration for an impact analysis prior to further votes.
