New Jersey: Natural Gas’ Crucial Role – 1:00 The Power Behind the Switch – 8:40 Hudson Tunnels: Gateway to the Future – 16:42 “Cinderella Man” James Braddock – 25:17
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1 01:01:00,823 --> 01:01:04,160 When we think about new Jersey infrastructure, we usually picture 2 01:01:04,160 --> 01:01:07,163 highways, rail lines, ports and pipelines. 3 01:01:07,330 --> 01:01:10,733 But long before route one or the Northeast Corridor Railroad, 4 01:01:10,967 --> 01:01:12,635 there was another transportation 5 01:01:12,635 --> 01:01:15,605 spine running quietly through the heart of the state. 6 01:01:15,672 --> 01:01:17,006 It was hand dug. 7 01:01:17,006 --> 01:01:20,410 It reshaped cities, and it still matters today. 8 01:01:20,810 --> 01:01:24,080 This is the story of the Delaware and Raritan Canal. 9 01:01:25,014 --> 01:01:26,983 The idea of cutting a canal across 10 01:01:26,983 --> 01:01:29,986 new Jersey is older than the United States itself. 11 01:01:30,086 --> 01:01:35,591 In 1676, William Penn, founder of Pennsylvania, proposed creating 12 01:01:35,591 --> 01:01:39,662 a water route across what he called the narrow waist of new Jersey. 13 01:01:40,263 --> 01:01:44,801 His goal was ambitious a protected inland passage connecting Philadelphia 14 01:01:44,801 --> 01:01:48,337 to New York Harbor, avoiding the dangerous Atlantic route. 15 01:01:48,805 --> 01:01:51,507 Penn even ordered a survey to see if it was possible 16 01:01:51,507 --> 01:01:54,610 to cut away across the country to Sandy Hook. 17 01:01:55,044 --> 01:01:59,816 No record survives that the survey ever happened, but the idea never disappeared. 18 01:02:00,383 --> 01:02:03,853 For the next hundred years, the concept slipped quietly 19 01:02:03,853 --> 01:02:07,957 while colonies grew, fought a revolution, and became a nation. 20 01:02:08,524 --> 01:02:12,028 But by the early 1800s, America turned its attention 21 01:02:12,028 --> 01:02:16,866 to internal improvements, and new Jersey found itself at the center of everything. 22 01:02:17,700 --> 01:02:21,003 By the 1820s, enthusiasm for a canal linking 23 01:02:21,003 --> 01:02:24,006 New York and Philadelphia reached a fever pitch. 24 01:02:24,407 --> 01:02:27,410 But there was a problem. Railroads. 25 01:02:27,677 --> 01:02:32,148 New Jersey lawmakers were split between canal supporters and railroad advocates. 26 01:02:32,548 --> 01:02:36,185 Each side was powerful, and each side blocked the other. 27 01:02:36,652 --> 01:02:40,923 The stalemate ended in 1830 with a uniquely new Jersey compromise. 28 01:02:41,524 --> 01:02:44,727 The legislature chartered both and then merged them, 29 01:02:44,927 --> 01:02:48,931 creating a canal rail partnership known as the Joint Companies. 30 01:02:49,365 --> 01:02:54,103 The Delaware and Raritan Canal Company and the Camden and Amboy Railroad. 31 01:02:54,437 --> 01:02:57,440 Construction on both began the same year. 32 01:02:57,507 --> 01:03:02,411 By 1833, the railroad was running from Bordentown to South Amboy. 33 01:03:02,912 --> 01:03:06,282 Parts of the canal opened at the same time, but the full canal 34 01:03:06,282 --> 01:03:09,285 wouldn't be completed until 1834. 35 01:03:09,886 --> 01:03:13,890 On June 25th, 1834, the canal officially opened. 36 01:03:14,357 --> 01:03:17,894 Governor Peter Dumont's room boarded a ceremonial barge 37 01:03:17,894 --> 01:03:20,229 for a two day journey across the state. 38 01:03:20,229 --> 01:03:23,232 At every lock and bridge, crowds cheered. 39 01:03:23,766 --> 01:03:26,736 In New Brunswick, he was greeted with a 24 gun 40 01:03:26,736 --> 01:03:29,739 salute and a brass band parade through the city. 41 01:03:30,072 --> 01:03:34,310 The canal itself formed a giant meandering “Y” across new Jersey, 42 01:03:34,877 --> 01:03:37,880 44 miles from Bordentown to New Brunswick, 43 01:03:38,447 --> 01:03:41,818 a 22 mile feeder canal from Raven Rock to Trenton. 44 01:03:42,451 --> 01:03:45,421 The engineering was remarkably sophisticated. 45 01:03:45,421 --> 01:03:48,591 The feeder canal was six feet deep and 50ft wide. 46 01:03:49,091 --> 01:03:51,160 The main canal was seven feet deep. 47 01:03:51,160 --> 01:03:54,497 Later expanded to eight and 75ft wide. 48 01:03:54,964 --> 01:03:57,934 Seven locks lifted boats up to Trenton. 49 01:03:57,934 --> 01:04:01,637 Seven more brought them back down to sea level at the Raritan River. 50 01:04:02,338 --> 01:04:05,341 Stone riprap lined the banks to prevent erosion. 51 01:04:05,775 --> 01:04:10,079 Swing bridges pivoted sideways so vessels of any mast height could pass. 52 01:04:10,479 --> 01:04:15,585 By 1868, even the locks were powered by steam, and once built, 53 01:04:15,751 --> 01:04:19,121 the canal barely needed modification for the next century. 54 01:04:20,022 --> 01:04:22,758 But this achievement came at a price. 55 01:04:22,758 --> 01:04:26,596 Most of the canal was dug by hand by Irish immigrant laborers. 56 01:04:27,129 --> 01:04:30,600 In 1832, cholera swept through the work camps. 57 01:04:30,933 --> 01:04:33,936 Dozens, possibly hundreds, died. 58 01:04:34,003 --> 01:04:36,439 They were buried in unmarked mass graves 59 01:04:36,439 --> 01:04:40,276 at Bull's Island, Ten Mile Run and Griggstown. 60 01:04:41,310 --> 01:04:44,213 In 2003, a granite monument 61 01:04:44,213 --> 01:04:47,984 cut from a former canal lock was dedicated to their memory. 62 01:04:48,618 --> 01:04:52,021 It stands today as a reminder that infrastructure is built 63 01:04:52,221 --> 01:04:56,058 not just with money and materials, but with human lives. 64 01:04:57,560 --> 01:05:00,229 A canal journey from Bordentown to New Brunswick 65 01:05:00,229 --> 01:05:03,299 took nearly two days, but that was revolutionary. 66 01:05:03,833 --> 01:05:06,469 Before the canal, shipping goods from Philadelphia 67 01:05:06,469 --> 01:05:09,472 to New York by sea could take two weeks. 68 01:05:09,538 --> 01:05:12,541 The canal transformed cities at its ends. 69 01:05:12,808 --> 01:05:15,411 Trenton's population quadrupled. 70 01:05:15,411 --> 01:05:19,682 Ironworks, ceramic factories and manufacturers surged in. 71 01:05:20,349 --> 01:05:24,320 But the canal's greatest beneficiaries were New York and Pennsylvania. 72 01:05:24,887 --> 01:05:28,491 Pennsylvania anthracite coal destined for New York's 73 01:05:28,491 --> 01:05:31,761 furnaces and homes became the canal's lifeblood. 74 01:05:32,061 --> 01:05:35,932 At its peak in 1871, nearly 3 million 75 01:05:35,932 --> 01:05:40,102 tons of freight passed through the canal, more than the Erie Canal carried 76 01:05:40,102 --> 01:05:41,837 That same year. 77 01:05:41,837 --> 01:05:46,008 And it wasn't just canal boats, sailboats, steam tugs, yachts, 78 01:05:46,342 --> 01:05:49,412 and even naval vessels passed through this narrow waterway. 79 01:05:50,346 --> 01:05:52,415 Ironically, the canal's decline 80 01:05:52,415 --> 01:05:55,851 began with its own partner in 1871. 81 01:05:55,952 --> 01:05:59,689 The Pennsylvania Railroad leased the canal and its rail connection 82 01:05:59,922 --> 01:06:02,925 for 999 years. 83 01:06:02,925 --> 01:06:06,295 From that moment on, canal traffic steadily fell. 84 01:06:06,896 --> 01:06:08,531 Railroads were faster. 85 01:06:08,531 --> 01:06:09,932 They ran day and night. 86 01:06:09,932 --> 01:06:11,934 They didn't freeze in the winter. 87 01:06:11,934 --> 01:06:17,106 By 1893, the canal was operating at a loss and never recovered. 88 01:06:17,606 --> 01:06:21,043 Some historians believe the railroad intentionally starved 89 01:06:21,043 --> 01:06:24,981 the canal of maintenance while favoring rail shipments with lower rates. 90 01:06:25,548 --> 01:06:28,784 In 1933, the canal closed for the winter. 91 01:06:29,218 --> 01:06:30,987 It never reopened. 92 01:06:30,987 --> 01:06:34,623 Four years later, ownership reverted to the state of new Jersey. 93 01:06:35,958 --> 01:06:38,327 Yet the canal wasn't finished. 94 01:06:38,327 --> 01:06:41,330 As industry spread out in the 1930s and 40s. 95 01:06:41,464 --> 01:06:45,634 They needed water and the canal could provide it cheaper than wells. 96 01:06:46,135 --> 01:06:49,772 So the canal reinvented itself, not as a transportation 97 01:06:49,772 --> 01:06:52,775 corridor, but as a water supply system. 98 01:06:52,975 --> 01:06:57,146 Parts were filled in, including a section in Trenton that became route one. 99 01:06:57,747 --> 01:07:00,750 Other sections were modernized with concrete structures, 100 01:07:00,783 --> 01:07:03,786 steel gates, and improved flow systems. 101 01:07:03,786 --> 01:07:08,958 In 1973, the canal was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 102 01:07:09,425 --> 01:07:13,029 One year later, Citizen Advocacy helped create the Delaware 103 01:07:13,029 --> 01:07:16,032 and Raritan Canal State Park. 104 01:07:16,198 --> 01:07:19,702 Today, more than a million people visit the canal each year. 105 01:07:20,136 --> 01:07:23,472 It's a recreational corridor, a conservation link, 106 01:07:23,973 --> 01:07:28,944 a historic landmark, and it still supplies water to industry. 107 01:07:28,978 --> 01:07:30,446 Agriculture and drinking 108 01:07:30,446 --> 01:07:34,216 water systems serving nearly 1 million new Jersey residents. 109 01:07:34,850 --> 01:07:37,853 This canal helped build city's power industry 110 01:07:38,054 --> 01:07:40,556 and shaped the economy of an entire region. 111 01:07:41,524 --> 01:07:44,193 The Delaware and Raritan Canal reminds us 112 01:07:44,193 --> 01:07:48,164 that infrastructure doesn't disappear when its original purpose ends. 113 01:07:48,564 --> 01:07:52,001 When we preserve it, adapt it, and understand its history. 114 01:07:52,201 --> 01:07:56,138 It continues to serve us in ways its builders could never have imagined. 115 01:07:56,639 --> 01:08:00,076 And that's why our infrastructure matters. 116 01:08:01,143 --> 01:08:04,346 Clean water delivered straight to your home. 117 01:08:04,547 --> 01:08:07,283 It's something most people take for granted. 118 01:08:07,283 --> 01:08:11,353 But in new Jersey, aging, drinking water infrastructure is leaking, 119 01:08:11,353 --> 01:08:14,356 crumbling and in urgent need of repair. 120 01:08:14,590 --> 01:08:16,292 In some cities, like Newark. 121 01:08:16,292 --> 01:08:20,896 Up to 40% of the water is lost before it even reaches the tap. 122 01:08:21,363 --> 01:08:25,267 And New Jersey's drinking water travels through a complex network 123 01:08:25,701 --> 01:08:30,806 stored in dams and reservoirs, filtered through treatment plants and delivered 124 01:08:30,806 --> 01:08:35,778 through a labyrinth of underground pipes, many of them over a century old. 125 01:08:36,445 --> 01:08:39,448 This system serves over 9 million residents. 126 01:08:39,582 --> 01:08:42,351 But it wasn't built to last forever. 127 01:08:42,351 --> 01:08:44,587 In Newark alone, 40% 128 01:08:44,587 --> 01:08:47,590 of the city's drinking water is lost to leaks. 129 01:08:47,790 --> 01:08:52,428 Statewide, the number is over 130 million gallons per day, 130 01:08:52,728 --> 01:08:55,464 enough to supply entire towns. 131 01:08:55,464 --> 01:08:58,734 Lead pipes still buried beneath thousands of homes 132 01:08:59,135 --> 01:09:02,138 pose a health risk to children and families. 133 01:09:02,338 --> 01:09:05,908 Old valves and undersized mains can't meet today's 134 01:09:05,908 --> 01:09:08,911 demands or tomorrow's emergencies. 135 01:09:09,411 --> 01:09:12,882 New Jersey also relies on more than 1600 136 01:09:12,882 --> 01:09:15,885 dams to hold drinking water in reservoirs. 137 01:09:16,085 --> 01:09:20,723 Many were built in the 1950s and 60s, and dozens are now considered 138 01:09:20,723 --> 01:09:25,060 high hazard, meaning failure would endanger lives downstream. 139 01:09:25,761 --> 01:09:27,096 Like water mains. 140 01:09:27,096 --> 01:09:29,999 Our dam infrastructure needs modernization 141 01:09:29,999 --> 01:09:33,002 before small issues become disasters. 142 01:09:33,802 --> 01:09:36,972 Rebuilding drinking water systems is no easy job. 143 01:09:37,473 --> 01:09:40,910 Operating engineers are the men and women trained to do it. 144 01:09:41,243 --> 01:09:44,346 Operating heavy machinery, laying new mains 145 01:09:44,613 --> 01:09:47,616 and repairing dams with pinpoint precision. 146 01:09:48,050 --> 01:09:52,254 They complete thousands of hours of training to keep water clean, safe 147 01:09:52,488 --> 01:09:54,123 and flowing. 148 01:09:54,123 --> 01:09:56,892 Thanks to the bipartisan infrastructure law. 149 01:09:56,892 --> 01:10:01,430 Over $1 billion is coming to new Jersey for water system upgrades. 150 01:10:01,931 --> 01:10:04,600 That means safer drinking water, stronger 151 01:10:04,600 --> 01:10:07,570 dams, and thousands of union jobs. 152 01:10:07,803 --> 01:10:09,672 But we can't stop now. 153 01:10:09,672 --> 01:10:12,675 The future of clean water depends on steady investment 154 01:10:12,741 --> 01:10:15,744 and skilled workers ready to build it. 155 01:10:15,844 --> 01:10:19,048 What goes down the drain doesn't just disappear. 156 01:10:19,448 --> 01:10:22,851 New Jersey's wastewater systems are aging, overloaded, 157 01:10:23,152 --> 01:10:26,155 and in many places, dangerously outdated. 158 01:10:26,789 --> 01:10:30,359 Wastewater systems carry used water from homes and businesses 159 01:10:30,359 --> 01:10:34,296 to treatment plants where it's cleaned and returned to the environment. 160 01:10:34,697 --> 01:10:37,733 But much of this system is over 75 years old, 161 01:10:38,000 --> 01:10:41,003 cracked, leaking and undersized. 162 01:10:41,337 --> 01:10:45,341 In older cities, stormwater and sewage share the same pipes. 163 01:10:45,641 --> 01:10:48,611 When it rains too much, the system overflows. 164 01:10:48,877 --> 01:10:52,348 Dumping raw sewage directly into rivers and streets. 165 01:10:52,781 --> 01:10:56,285 These combined sewer overflows, or CSOs, 166 01:10:56,285 --> 01:11:00,222 are a public health hazard, and they're illegal under federal law. 167 01:11:01,323 --> 01:11:04,526 New Jersey's 200 plus wastewater treatment plants 168 01:11:04,526 --> 01:11:07,930 process billions of gallons of used water each week. 169 01:11:08,230 --> 01:11:11,267 But many plants were built decades ago and struggled 170 01:11:11,267 --> 01:11:14,270 to meet stricter environmental standards. 171 01:11:14,603 --> 01:11:17,373 Operating engineers dig deep to install 172 01:11:17,373 --> 01:11:20,409 new sewer lines, operate dewatering pumps, 173 01:11:20,609 --> 01:11:23,612 and build the pump stations that keep everything moving. 174 01:11:23,912 --> 01:11:28,550 Their expertise is critical to protecting homes, rivers and water quality. 175 01:11:29,652 --> 01:11:31,920 Thanks to new infrastructure funding. 176 01:11:31,920 --> 01:11:34,923 New Jersey is tackling CSO hotspots 177 01:11:35,090 --> 01:11:37,826 and modernizing wastewater plants. 178 01:11:37,826 --> 01:11:41,063 These upgrades protect health, improve the environment 179 01:11:41,230 --> 01:11:45,567 and create family sustaining union jobs that can't be outsourced. 180 01:11:46,602 --> 01:11:50,839 Storms are growing stronger and flooding is becoming the new normal. 181 01:11:51,407 --> 01:11:55,244 New Jersey's stormwater systems are outdated and overwhelmed. 182 01:11:55,744 --> 01:11:59,181 Stormwater systems are designed to capture rain and melting 183 01:11:59,181 --> 01:12:04,286 snow, then direct it safely into streams, rivers or treatment facilities. 184 01:12:04,753 --> 01:12:08,223 But most of New Jersey's storm drains were built decades ago 185 01:12:08,490 --> 01:12:11,260 without climate change in mind. 186 01:12:11,260 --> 01:12:14,496 Extreme storms now drop more water in less 187 01:12:14,496 --> 01:12:18,901 time, flooding homes, closing roads and threatening lives. 188 01:12:19,435 --> 01:12:22,571 Hard surfaces like roads and roofs make it worse. 189 01:12:22,671 --> 01:12:25,207 Preventing water from soaking into the ground. 190 01:12:26,175 --> 01:12:28,477 Fixing stormwater means blending 191 01:12:28,477 --> 01:12:32,715 traditional gray infrastructure with modern green techniques. 192 01:12:33,215 --> 01:12:36,685 Green solutions like rain gardens and bio swales 193 01:12:36,885 --> 01:12:41,156 soak up rain naturally, reducing the load on pipes and sewers. 194 01:12:41,457 --> 01:12:44,793 Together, they make neighborhoods more flood resistant. 195 01:12:45,561 --> 01:12:49,965 From digging retention basins to laying massive underground culverts. 196 01:12:50,132 --> 01:12:53,535 Operating engineers make resilience projects real. 197 01:12:53,969 --> 01:12:56,905 Their skill and machinery help protect communities 198 01:12:56,905 --> 01:12:59,908 from flooding before the next storm hits. 199 01:13:00,542 --> 01:13:03,545 Flooding won't stop, but we can build smarter 200 01:13:03,912 --> 01:13:08,584 with green infrastructure, smart investment and skilled union labor. 201 01:13:08,817 --> 01:13:11,820 New Jersey can lead the way in flood resilience 202 01:13:11,920 --> 01:13:15,691 and build a safer, drier, more secure future. 203 01:13:16,859 --> 01:13:19,128 When union labor and contractors 204 01:13:19,128 --> 01:13:23,298 come together for one common goal, anything can be accomplished. 205 01:13:23,365 --> 01:13:26,702 Even the engineers labor employer co-operative. 206 01:13:26,835 --> 01:13:30,873 We are the labor management fund for the International Union of Operating 207 01:13:30,873 --> 01:13:36,412 Engineers, local 825 from Kingston to Cape May and from river to river. 208 01:13:36,645 --> 01:13:38,380 We're creating the opportunities 209 01:13:38,380 --> 01:13:42,284 that spawn real economic development and building the future. 210 01:13:42,418 --> 01:13:45,487 As members of the business community and chambers 211 01:13:45,521 --> 01:13:49,124 of commerce, we create the partnerships needed to collaborate. 212 01:13:49,124 --> 01:13:49,925 Success. 213 01:13:49,925 --> 01:13:54,196 As advocates, we shape the public policy and local town halls 214 01:13:54,196 --> 01:13:58,333 and statehouses that protect our members and generate possibilities. 215 01:13:58,367 --> 01:14:02,638 We eliminate entry barriers that ensures our members are ready on day 216 01:14:02,638 --> 01:14:05,841 one for whatever work our contractors require. 217 01:14:06,041 --> 01:14:09,778 And as industry innovators, we develop grant programs 218 01:14:09,778 --> 01:14:13,949 to help our contractors compete in underrepresented market sectors. 219 01:14:14,149 --> 01:14:17,653 This is what the 21st century organized labor looks like. 220 01:14:17,920 --> 01:14:19,621 This is ELEC. 221 01:14:19,621 --> 01:14:21,490 building the infrastructure 222 01:14:21,490 --> 01:14:25,227 New York and Jersey relies on. 223 01:14:26,795 --> 01:14:30,332 Let's dig into a question a lot of new Jersey families are asking. 224 01:14:30,699 --> 01:14:35,037 Why is my electric bill so high when I haven't even used more power? 225 01:14:35,404 --> 01:14:38,407 The truth is, your bill isn't just one number. 226 01:14:38,440 --> 01:14:41,210 It's really five bills rolled into one. 227 01:14:41,210 --> 01:14:45,481 Ever wonder what the supply charges on your new Jersey energy bill really mean? 228 01:14:45,881 --> 01:14:47,082 That's the part of your bill 229 01:14:47,082 --> 01:14:50,786 that covers the actual cost of producing the electricity you use. 230 01:14:50,986 --> 01:14:55,090 The generation itself, your utility doesn't set those prices. 231 01:14:55,424 --> 01:14:58,427 They're based on market rates for power from different sources 232 01:14:58,594 --> 01:15:01,597 like natural gas, nuclear and renewables. 233 01:15:01,730 --> 01:15:05,033 When fuel prices rise or state policies change, 234 01:15:05,234 --> 01:15:09,471 supply charges can climb even if your usage stays the same. 235 01:15:09,972 --> 01:15:13,175 So next time you look at your bill, remember supply 236 01:15:13,175 --> 01:15:16,178 is what it costs to make the power not deliver it. 237 01:15:16,445 --> 01:15:19,314 When you see delivery charges on your new Jersey energy 238 01:15:19,314 --> 01:15:22,317 bill, that's not the cost of making electricity. 239 01:15:22,484 --> 01:15:26,321 It's the cost of getting that power safely to your home or business. 240 01:15:26,655 --> 01:15:30,492 Delivery charges cover the poles, wires, maintenance, customer 241 01:15:30,492 --> 01:15:33,695 service, and emergency response that keep the system running 242 01:15:33,862 --> 01:15:36,732 24 over seven in every kind of weather. 243 01:15:36,732 --> 01:15:41,203 These rates are regulated by the state, meaning your utility can't raise them 244 01:15:41,203 --> 01:15:45,374 without approval from the state via the new Jersey Board of Public Utilities. 245 01:15:45,674 --> 01:15:48,710 So while supply is what it costs to make electricity, 246 01:15:48,944 --> 01:15:53,615 delivery is what it takes to keep it flowing reliably to you and your home. 247 01:15:53,982 --> 01:15:57,419 Public policy charges are the state mandated programs 248 01:15:57,419 --> 01:15:59,321 built into your energy bill. 249 01:15:59,321 --> 01:16:02,257 They fund a clean energy, energy efficiency, 250 01:16:02,257 --> 01:16:05,260 and assistance programs for low income families. 251 01:16:05,761 --> 01:16:09,097 They fund environmental initiatives that support New Jersey's 252 01:16:09,097 --> 01:16:11,099 long term energy goals. 253 01:16:11,099 --> 01:16:12,935 These aren't utility profits. 254 01:16:12,935 --> 01:16:14,236 They're public programs 255 01:16:14,236 --> 01:16:18,340 required by state law and approved by regulators, and consumers 256 01:16:18,340 --> 01:16:22,411 are responsible for paying them. Taxes and fees on your New Jersey 257 01:16:22,411 --> 01:16:26,982 energy bill are state and local charges collected to fund government services. 258 01:16:27,382 --> 01:16:30,786 They're separate from supply and delivery, but a part of your bill 259 01:16:30,786 --> 01:16:32,955 that helps fund state efforts. 260 01:16:32,955 --> 01:16:36,725 So let's ask why are all of these pieces climbing at once? 261 01:16:37,292 --> 01:16:41,196 Starting in 2016, new Jersey started importing electricity 262 01:16:41,196 --> 01:16:45,334 from the PJM grid after a series of power plant retirements. 263 01:16:45,534 --> 01:16:49,271 The state has become even more dependent upon importing electricity 264 01:16:49,271 --> 01:16:50,606 from other states. 265 01:16:50,606 --> 01:16:54,209 The state hoped offshore wind would increase in-state electricity, 266 01:16:54,476 --> 01:16:58,313 but in 2023, Orsted pulled out of what was to be the state's 267 01:16:58,313 --> 01:17:00,248 first offshore wind farm. 268 01:17:00,248 --> 01:17:03,652 Blaming post-Covid supply chain problems and inflation 269 01:17:04,052 --> 01:17:08,223 today, new Jersey still has no credible plan for baseload power to meet 270 01:17:08,223 --> 01:17:13,829 growing demand, and the added usage from building electrification, EVs and AI. 271 01:17:14,129 --> 01:17:18,433 Instead, Trenton is betting heavily on intermittent wind and solar. 272 01:17:18,834 --> 01:17:23,939 The problem is when the sun sets or the wind stalls, the grid still needs power. 273 01:17:24,206 --> 01:17:28,644 And right now, that means scrambling for imports and other expensive means. 274 01:17:29,011 --> 01:17:31,279 That's why bills keep spiking. 275 01:17:31,279 --> 01:17:36,151 Bottom line these alternative energy sources are unproven and unreliable. 276 01:17:36,385 --> 01:17:39,421 So when we are short on supply, we pay more. 277 01:17:39,821 --> 01:17:43,692 Ultimately, the solution to New Jersey's electricity shortage is building 278 01:17:43,692 --> 01:17:48,697 additional baseload generating capacity from sources like natural gas and nuclear. 279 01:17:49,097 --> 01:17:52,801 When the world goes dark, nuclear power keeps the lights on. 280 01:17:53,135 --> 01:17:56,505 Day or night, rain or shine, it delivers steady, 281 01:17:56,672 --> 01:17:59,675 reliable energy when consumers need it most. 282 01:18:00,075 --> 01:18:02,244 While other sources depend on the weather. 283 01:18:02,244 --> 01:18:05,981 Nuclear energy runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 284 01:18:06,281 --> 01:18:10,652 quietly powering homes, hospitals and entire communities. 285 01:18:11,086 --> 01:18:13,822 And it does it without the carbon emissions. 286 01:18:13,822 --> 01:18:17,125 That's because nuclear power is the energy that never sleeps. 287 01:18:17,392 --> 01:18:20,395 Reliable, clean and always on. 288 01:18:20,562 --> 01:18:23,532 As new Jersey plans for a stable energy future. 289 01:18:23,565 --> 01:18:26,802 Natural gas is emerging as a key part of the solution. 290 01:18:27,269 --> 01:18:29,938 Abundant and widely available, natural 291 01:18:29,938 --> 01:18:33,675 gas provides reliable baseload power, keeping electricity 292 01:18:33,675 --> 01:18:37,746 flowing day and night, even when solar and wind aren't producing. 293 01:18:38,146 --> 01:18:41,083 By using natural gas strategically, new Jersey 294 01:18:41,083 --> 01:18:44,453 can help stabilize energy prices, protecting families 295 01:18:44,453 --> 01:18:48,390 and businesses from spikes while we transition to cleaner sources. 296 01:18:48,790 --> 01:18:54,029 Natural gas as part of a balanced, modern energy mix helps ensure a secure, 297 01:18:54,062 --> 01:18:58,800 affordable and reliable electricity future for everyone in the Garden State. 298 01:18:59,134 --> 01:19:02,838 Nuclear energy provides clean, steady power 24 over seven 299 01:19:02,971 --> 01:19:06,975 while natural gas is abundant and flexible, able to meet demand 300 01:19:07,109 --> 01:19:10,779 even when renewable sources like wind and solar fluctuate. 301 01:19:11,113 --> 01:19:15,951 Together, they form a foundation for a stable, affordable energy supply. 302 01:19:16,384 --> 01:19:19,788 Policymakers should focus on policies that encourage investment 303 01:19:19,788 --> 01:19:22,991 in these reliable sources, streamline regulatory 304 01:19:22,991 --> 01:19:25,994 approvals, and support infrastructure upgrades. 305 01:19:25,994 --> 01:19:29,898 All steps that help control costs for families and businesses. 306 01:19:30,165 --> 01:19:31,867 This isn't just about energy. 307 01:19:31,867 --> 01:19:33,869 It's an affordability crisis. 308 01:19:33,869 --> 01:19:36,104 Energy costs drive everything. 309 01:19:36,104 --> 01:19:40,509 If power is unaffordable, the state's affordability crisis gets worse. 310 01:19:40,842 --> 01:19:42,444 When policy is done right. 311 01:19:42,444 --> 01:19:45,981 We see reliable, clean energy at predictable prices. 312 01:19:46,081 --> 01:19:49,284 Investment in innovation and reduced carbon emissions. 313 01:19:49,618 --> 01:19:51,419 Home stay warm in winter. 314 01:19:51,419 --> 01:19:54,756 Businesses stay productive and communities thrive. 315 01:19:55,290 --> 01:19:58,894 But when policy goes wrong, the consequences hit hard. 316 01:19:59,194 --> 01:20:02,197 Unstable markets, skyrocketing prices 317 01:20:02,264 --> 01:20:06,201 and energy shortages can ripple through households and businesses alike. 318 01:20:06,535 --> 01:20:10,705 The burden falls heaviest on families already struggling to make ends meet. 319 01:20:11,273 --> 01:20:14,509 Affordability becomes a real challenge for planning 320 01:20:14,509 --> 01:20:18,547 can turn essential energy into a costly, unpredictable expense, 321 01:20:18,713 --> 01:20:21,716 impacting everything from schools to hospitals. 322 01:20:22,217 --> 01:20:25,554 Getting energy policy right is about more than kilowatts. 323 01:20:25,921 --> 01:20:30,759 It's about security, fairness and a sustainable future we can rely on. 324 01:20:31,293 --> 01:20:34,930 Until new Jersey builds around nuclear and natural gas. 325 01:20:35,197 --> 01:20:37,199 Bills will keep climbing. 326 01:20:37,199 --> 01:20:40,402 Baseload first. Everything else. Second. 327 01:20:42,003 --> 01:20:45,006 Bulldozers, excavators and cranes. 328 01:20:45,273 --> 01:20:48,877 Heavy machinery covers the lot of the operating engineers 329 01:20:48,877 --> 01:20:53,348 training center, local 825, in Dayton, new Jersey. 330 01:20:53,481 --> 01:20:57,485 It's where 7800 union members across new Jersey 331 01:20:57,485 --> 01:21:01,790 and Lower New York train before building local infrastructure. 332 01:21:01,823 --> 01:21:03,592 We have everything, almost soup to nuts 333 01:21:03,592 --> 01:21:05,594 that you would see in the construction industry. 334 01:21:05,594 --> 01:21:07,062 We teach everything here. 335 01:21:07,062 --> 01:21:10,665 Greg Lullaby, a second generation crane operator, 336 01:21:10,832 --> 01:21:13,735 now oversees the training center's operations. 337 01:21:13,735 --> 01:21:17,873 We invest in training every year because what we do is so, so critical. 338 01:21:17,973 --> 01:21:20,876 Before operating heavy equipment, pull it back to you. 339 01:21:20,876 --> 01:21:23,278 Nice and easy. The trainees start here. 340 01:21:23,278 --> 01:21:26,081 We start them out at certain, like basic skills. 341 01:21:26,081 --> 01:21:32,153 It looks like a gaming arcade using state of the art virtual reality simulators. 342 01:21:32,187 --> 01:21:33,922 Training is key. 343 01:21:33,922 --> 01:21:36,925 Different weather, different lighting. Snow. 344 01:21:37,192 --> 01:21:42,030 When training at the center is free to a limited number of students chosen. 345 01:21:42,130 --> 01:21:43,798 It's competitive too. 346 01:21:43,798 --> 01:21:46,735 Costs are covered by a union members fund. 347 01:21:46,735 --> 01:21:51,306 We have about 170 students now and then we retrain. 348 01:21:51,306 --> 01:21:55,043 A big component of what we do is taking somebody like myself, 349 01:21:55,043 --> 01:21:58,346 who may have been around 40 years, but the technology changed. 350 01:21:58,513 --> 01:22:02,083 All students, both men and women, have to undergo 351 01:22:02,083 --> 01:22:05,787 OSHA safety training and get familiar with the heavy equipment. 352 01:22:05,854 --> 01:22:09,557 They told me practicing on the simulator gives them the confidence 353 01:22:09,557 --> 01:22:11,359 they need on the heavy hitters. 354 01:22:11,359 --> 01:22:16,197 These future operators are in high demand, with major construction ramping up. 355 01:22:16,298 --> 01:22:21,670 Local 825 is bridging tradition and technology for a brighter future. 356 01:22:21,703 --> 01:22:24,239 Roxann Evans, news 12. 357 01:23:20,729 --> 01:23:23,465 Whether you're crawling through traffic on the turnpike, 358 01:23:23,698 --> 01:23:28,036 breezing through a roundabout, or dodging orange cones during a midnight 359 01:23:28,036 --> 01:23:31,906 paving project, new Jersey roads are anything but boring. 360 01:23:32,240 --> 01:23:34,275 But there's a method to the madness. 361 01:23:34,275 --> 01:23:37,312 In this video, we'll break down how our roads got here. 362 01:23:37,545 --> 01:23:38,913 Who builds them and why? 363 01:23:38,913 --> 01:23:42,417 Certain intersections get roundabouts while others get lights. 364 01:23:42,650 --> 01:23:45,420 And why so much of it happens at night. 365 01:23:45,420 --> 01:23:49,491 After World War Two, new Jersey was growing and fast. 366 01:23:49,958 --> 01:23:52,727 The traffic surge demanded new solutions. 367 01:23:52,727 --> 01:23:56,898 So in 1951, the state opened the new Jersey Turnpike, 368 01:23:57,198 --> 01:24:01,036 a straight shots, limited access toll road that spanned the state. 369 01:24:01,269 --> 01:24:05,507 It quickly became a vital artery for goods, commuters and cross-country 370 01:24:05,507 --> 01:24:06,641 travelers. 371 01:24:06,641 --> 01:24:11,479 Hot on its heels was the Garden State Parkway, built to serve not just workers 372 01:24:11,746 --> 01:24:16,484 but beach bound vacationers, scenic, tree lined and more suburban. 373 01:24:16,818 --> 01:24:20,055 It was designed for a different kind of travel experience. 374 01:24:20,422 --> 01:24:23,591 Together, these two roads transformed new Jersey 375 01:24:23,658 --> 01:24:27,595 into a commuter state and reshaped development around them. 376 01:24:28,263 --> 01:24:32,200 In 1956, President Eisenhower signed the Federal 377 01:24:32,200 --> 01:24:35,637 Aid Highway Act, launching the Interstate Highway System. 378 01:24:36,004 --> 01:24:39,374 New Jersey became a crucial highway I-95, 379 01:24:39,574 --> 01:24:43,178 I-80, I-78, I, two, 87, 380 01:24:43,411 --> 01:24:47,615 and more connected the state to New York, Philadelphia, and beyond. 381 01:24:48,149 --> 01:24:50,685 They made new Jersey one of the most heavily trafficked 382 01:24:50,685 --> 01:24:53,922 and densely paved states in the U.S.. 383 01:24:54,355 --> 01:24:57,192 Traffic lights are everywhere in new Jersey. 384 01:24:57,192 --> 01:25:01,696 Over 6000 signalized intersections control our busiest roads. 385 01:25:02,197 --> 01:25:04,999 They help manage turning movements, pedestrian 386 01:25:04,999 --> 01:25:08,002 crossings, and high volumes of vehicles. 387 01:25:08,036 --> 01:25:12,140 They're customizable and programable, but they're not always efficient. 388 01:25:12,540 --> 01:25:16,478 Long red lights caused delays, and when drivers lose patience, 389 01:25:16,711 --> 01:25:21,616 crash risks go up, especially with left turns and red light running. 390 01:25:21,983 --> 01:25:25,987 That's why newer, safer alternatives are growing in popularity. 391 01:25:26,554 --> 01:25:31,893 Enter the modern roundabout, a circular intersection where traffic keeps moving. 392 01:25:32,360 --> 01:25:35,864 Vehicles yield as they enter and travel counterclockwise. 393 01:25:36,231 --> 01:25:39,400 Unlike older traffic circles, modern roundabouts 394 01:25:39,400 --> 01:25:42,403 are designed for low speeds and high safety. 395 01:25:42,504 --> 01:25:46,107 Roundabouts reduce injury crashes by up to 80%. 396 01:25:46,508 --> 01:25:50,278 They also improve traffic flow, eliminate the need for electricity, 397 01:25:50,578 --> 01:25:53,581 and are less costly to maintain over time. 398 01:25:53,781 --> 01:25:58,253 New Jersey has been quietly adding them to suburban and even rural areas. 399 01:25:58,953 --> 01:26:03,892 A road diets might sound like cutting back, but it's actually about redesign. 400 01:26:04,259 --> 01:26:08,596 A typical road diet reduces a four lane road to two travel lanes, 401 01:26:08,863 --> 01:26:13,334 adds a center turn lane, and introduces bike or pedestrian features. 402 01:26:13,801 --> 01:26:16,838 It works best where traffic volumes don't justify 403 01:26:16,838 --> 01:26:20,375 four lanes and where speeding or crashes are a concern. 404 01:26:20,708 --> 01:26:25,880 Cities like Montclair, Hoboken and Asbury Park have adopted road diets 405 01:26:25,880 --> 01:26:30,985 to make streets calmer and more usable for everyone, not just drivers. 406 01:26:31,686 --> 01:26:34,022 While the road designs may come from traffic 407 01:26:34,022 --> 01:26:37,959 engineers, the hard work of building and maintaining them falls 408 01:26:37,959 --> 01:26:41,563 to people on the ground, especially operating engineers. 409 01:26:41,996 --> 01:26:45,733 These skilled union workers operate the machinery that lays asphalt, 410 01:26:46,100 --> 01:26:50,038 digs trenches and builds the physical infrastructure we drive on. 411 01:26:50,505 --> 01:26:52,106 It's complex work. 412 01:26:52,106 --> 01:26:54,642 The most densely populated state in the country 413 01:26:54,642 --> 01:26:58,279 has a century and more of underground water, sewer 414 01:26:58,413 --> 01:27:03,117 and natural gas pipelines to deal with, along with buried electrical cables 415 01:27:03,117 --> 01:27:07,255 and myriad environmental and land use regulations to deal with. 416 01:27:07,622 --> 01:27:10,758 A simple error can delay a project by months. 417 01:27:11,092 --> 01:27:14,495 Road paving is often done in the summer, when warm temperatures 418 01:27:14,495 --> 01:27:16,731 help asphalt bind properly. 419 01:27:16,731 --> 01:27:19,801 Cold weather can crack or crumble pavement quickly, 420 01:27:20,034 --> 01:27:23,705 and it often happens at night to reduce traffic disruptions 421 01:27:23,871 --> 01:27:26,107 and improve worker safety. 422 01:27:26,107 --> 01:27:31,045 Night paving reduces the impact on commuters, businesses, and emergency 423 01:27:31,045 --> 01:27:31,946 services. 424 01:27:31,946 --> 01:27:36,217 But it's also about safety for workers and for drivers. 425 01:27:36,517 --> 01:27:40,121 Lower traffic volumes at night mean fewer close calls. 426 01:27:40,521 --> 01:27:44,726 Crews can close more lanes, work faster and reduce their risk. 427 01:27:45,193 --> 01:27:49,430 Working at night requires additional generators to power large lighting systems 428 01:27:49,664 --> 01:27:53,735 and additional safety precautions to keep work crews and travelers safe. 429 01:27:54,302 --> 01:27:56,604 Still, it's dangerous work. 430 01:27:56,604 --> 01:28:00,108 Crews wear reflective gear, use flaggers and cones, 431 01:28:00,375 --> 01:28:03,378 and operate under strict safety protocols. 432 01:28:03,411 --> 01:28:06,180 In 2023 alone, over 800 433 01:28:06,180 --> 01:28:09,183 work zone crashes were reported in new Jersey. 434 01:28:09,417 --> 01:28:12,420 Slowing down in work zones isn't just a courtesy, 435 01:28:12,787 --> 01:28:14,889 It saves lives. 436 01:28:14,889 --> 01:28:18,893 So why does one town get a roundabout and another a traffic signal? 437 01:28:19,260 --> 01:28:22,897 It comes down to data engineers look at traffic counts, 438 01:28:22,930 --> 01:28:26,334 crash records, pedestrian usage and local input. 439 01:28:26,734 --> 01:28:31,406 Every solution is customized, and that's part of what makes new Jersey unique. 440 01:28:31,873 --> 01:28:34,075 There's no one size fits all. 441 01:28:34,075 --> 01:28:38,646 Urban, suburban, coastal, and rural communities all have different needs. 442 01:28:39,013 --> 01:28:42,116 A smart road network adapts to serve all of them. 443 01:28:42,717 --> 01:28:45,553 But why are they always working on the roads? 444 01:28:45,553 --> 01:28:48,656 Asphalt typically last 10 to 15 years 445 01:28:48,856 --> 01:28:51,859 before requiring resurfacing or repaving. 446 01:28:52,160 --> 01:28:55,096 The life span is shortened due to traffic volume. 447 01:28:55,096 --> 01:28:58,700 Winter freeze and thaw cycles, and heavy truckloads. 448 01:28:58,966 --> 01:29:01,235 In other words, new Jersey. 449 01:29:01,235 --> 01:29:02,904 And just like a sore tooth. 450 01:29:02,904 --> 01:29:08,176 Postponing or delaying maintenance only makes things more expensive and painful. 451 01:29:08,910 --> 01:29:11,612 New Jersey is investing in complete streets, 452 01:29:11,612 --> 01:29:15,583 smart traffic systems and multi-modal courts that support 453 01:29:15,583 --> 01:29:19,187 walking, biking, public transit and electric vehicles. 454 01:29:19,520 --> 01:29:22,390 With infrastructure funding and new technology. 455 01:29:22,390 --> 01:29:26,561 The state is rethinking what roads should look like in the 21st century. 456 01:29:26,994 --> 01:29:29,997 So next time you're on the parkway, looping through a roundabout 457 01:29:30,298 --> 01:29:33,234 or waiting behind a paving crew, remember 458 01:29:33,234 --> 01:29:38,172 there's planning history and hard work behind every inch of asphalt.
