A controversial, natural gas-fired power plant proposed for the Meadowlands would emit more carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases than any existing power plant in New Jersey, according to a review of federal data.

In fact, North Bergen Liberty Generating station's estimated 2.6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions would tie it with the Phillips 66 Bayway Refinery in Linden as the top single greenhouse gas producer in the Garden State.

A list of New Jersey's top emitters can be found below.

Opponents of the plant are concerned that the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection would not consider the impact of greenhouse gases as officials evaluate a slate of air permits that will determine if the power plant is built.

But federal permitting rules have required the state to consider greenhouse gas emissions when evaluating most power plant proposals since 2010, DEP spokesman Larry Hajna said on Thursday.

"Yes, greenhouse gas emissions will be evaluated as part of the application," Hajna said.

Opponents who gathered in Ridgefield Park on Friday to protest the power plant said they were told by top-level DEP staffers at a recent private meeting that the agency would not consider carbon dioxide emissions in reviewing the plant's permit applications.

Proposed by the Mitsubishi subsidiary Diamond Generating Corp., the plant would be one of the largest electricity generators in the state, at 1,200 megawatts.

But none of the electricity would go to New Jersey consumers. It would instead be transmitted by cable under the Hudson River to New York City.

The $1.5 billion project has the backing of North Bergen leaders, the Meadowlands Chamber of Commerce and by labor unions because Diamond Generating Corp. would temporarily employ more than 2,100 construction workers to build the plant.

About 30 permanent workers would operate the plant, and the company would spend about $5 million annually to local contractors for plant maintenance.

But more than 40 towns have passed resolutions against the plant, including mayors of many Meadowlands communities along with the Bergen County League of Municipalities.

Among those at the protest on Friday were several mayors who oppose the plant.

"We cannot afford to power New York City on the backs of the environmental health and safety of the Meadowlands and New Jersey residents," said Westwood Mayor John Birkner Jr.

Murphy has ambitious goals to generate half of New Jersey's electricity by solar, wind and other renewable power within 11 years and 100 percent by 2050.

But he came under criticism when the DEP issued six wetlands-related permits for the project in June.

The air permits, yet to be approved, are another key step for the project to proceed. The DEP is evaluating how much air pollution the plant will emit, including the chemicals that cause smog.

But greenhouse gases are just as important, project opponents say. The growing impacts of climate change from millions of tons of carbon dioxide would be felt throughout the 14-town Meadowlands region, which already experiences chronic flooding and suffered tens of millions of dollars in damage from a 12-foot storm surge propelled by Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

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Cars, trucks, trains, boats and other members of the transportation sector are far and away the leading emitters of carbon dioxide in New Jersey followed by power plants.

The amount of greenhouse gases emitted by large facilities such as power plants change from year to year. But the same facilities are often near the top in New Jersey year after year.

Liberty Generating would pump 100,000 more tons of carbon dioxide into the air than the Linden Cogeneration facility, which was the top emitter among power plants in 2017 based on measurements reported to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

It would also be the largest emitter in New York based on the 2017 measurements - the latest greenhouse gas data available from the EPA.

Liberty Generating has the potential to pump 3.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide if it were running at full capacity, according to data submitted to the DEP. But a spokesman for the project said it would emit an average of 2.6 million metric tons annually.

"Our emissions would decrease as more renewable energy sources are tied into the grid," said Brian Hague, a spokesman for the developer Diamond Generating Corp. of Los Angeles.

The 3.5 million metric tons "is what our plant could emit if it was running at full capacity year round – a highly unlikely scenario," Hague said.

Top greenhouse gas emitters in 2017

Phillips 66 Bayway Refinery: 2.6 million metric tons

Linden Cogeneration (power plant): 2.5 million

Red Oak Power (power plant), Sayreville: 2 million

Linden Generating Station (power plant): 1.9 million

West Deptford Energy Station (power plant): 1.8 million

Paulsboro Refining Company (refinery): 1.8 million

Woodbridge Energy Center (power plant): 1.7 million

Newark Energy Center (power plant): 1.5 million

Bergen Generating Station (power plant), Ridgefield: 1.4 million

Carneys Point (power plant): 1 million

Source: U.S. EPA

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