Newark council advances ordinance to bar city funding for fossil-fuel projects after environmental group testimony

The Newark Municipal Council advanced on first reading an ordinance intended to prohibit the use of city funds for developing or expanding fossil‑fuel projects, after members and an environmental group pressed for precise language.

Dr. Leah Owens of the South Ward Environmental Alliance told the council the measures “are about prohibiting the expansion of fossil fuels so that we can breathe clean air and be a healthy community,” and urged that technical revisions discussed with administration be reflected in the council’s Legistar record. She asked the council to ensure the ordinance’s language matches the policy intent and the technical edits the group provided.

Council members said the ordinance is intended to protect public health by preventing city money from supporting fossil‑fuel infrastructure. A council member described the item as focusing “on using city funds to develop and push forward fossil‑fuel plants” and thanked the administration and community partners for advancing the measure.

The ordinance was introduced for first reading and will be published in accordance with law; a public hearing, second reading and final passage were scheduled for the council’s regular meeting on Feb. 18 (or soon thereafter) in the council chamber. The city clerk was asked to confirm that any edits agreed with community organizations are reflected in the Legistar text before the next reading.

What’s next: The council will advertise the ordinance and hold a public hearing at the scheduled second‑reading meeting, where the administration and petitioners can confirm any technical revisions.