NJ voter referendum to ban all fossil fuel power amended to prevent blackouts

New Jersey lawmakers have advanced a bill to have voters decide on whether to amending the state’s Constitution to ban construction of new power plants that burn natural gas or other fossil fuels.

A Senate committee, according to the Associated Press, added an exception for such plants if they’re used primarily to prevent blackouts.

Since wind and solar energy only generate electricity under the right weather conditions, they have to be backed up with generators powered by fossil fuels, nuclear reactors, or hydroelectric. Battery storage can also provide brief periods of backup.

The wire service also reports that New Jersey has no coal-fired power plants, but it does have 26 power plants that burn fossil fuels, along with two nuclear power plants.

The bill has more approval processes to go through before it will be placed on the ballot in November’s general election, and it will likely be amended further before that happens.