February 2021 — Fossil News

This month has brought with it multiple snow events, leaving behind significant accumulations and subsequent freezing temperatures.

While watching the news unfold of the unprecedented cold temperatures that hit Texas, and the ensuing blackouts, I think back to the extreme weather conditions our generating stations endured through the polar vortex of 2014. Our success through such challenging conditions then and now is a testament to each and every one of our members and their dedication to our plants. One of the suggestions for NJ, proposed to the BPU, would be to leave the PJM power pool and take on a structure that was compared to ERCOT in Texas. This arrangement would allow for the pricing of renewables and carbon free power to not include the dollar amount of the subsidies provided to them. The thought is to have the renewables and carbon free sources be dispatched first before fossil fuel powered sources. My personal opinion is that you need a balanced approach that utilizes all forms of power, so we do not jeopardize the health and well-being of the residents of NJ by limiting your resources. Time will tell which direction the State of NJ will go. The divestiture of the Fossil stations is ongoing with no new news to report at this time. If you have questions and concerns, continue to forward them to the Company and us, and we will add them to a running list of questions and items of concern contributed by the membership. As more information becomes available, we will share with everyone. Fossil has undergone a tremendous amount of change in the last 5 years with the closure of M+RS, Mercer, and Hudson, and the restructuring of the stations and normal workforce numbers.