Purchase of Bayonne Energy Center to have city benefits
With Macquarie Infrastructure Company announcing on Feb. 5 that it has entered into an agreement to acquire the Bayonne Energy Center, Mayor James Davis says it will be a win-win situation for the company and the city.
“Macquarie’s purchase shows their continued investment in Bayonne,” Davis said last week. “They’re looking to add another 100 megawatts to it, which would generate more tax dollars for the city of Bayonne.”
Macquarie is the company which completed its purchase of International-Matex Tank Terminals last summer. IMTT, a storage facility for oil products and chemicals, has been in Bayonne since the early 1980s. It is the largest landowner in the city, employs hundreds, and has been known for its generosity to the city and Bayonne School District.
The BEC includes the 512-megawatt, gas-fired power generation facility adjacent to IMTT. The power produced by the BEC is used to meet electricity demand in New York.
Davis said he was pleased when he heard about the Macquarie move.
“They’re making a second investment in the city,” he said.
City department makes call for artists for mural
The Community Development Mural Program has made a call for artists to participate in its second mural initiative, a rendering of Bayonne champ Chuck Wepner. The mural will commemorate the 40th anniversary of his heavyweight title fight with then-champion Muhammad Ali.
If interested, send your contact information and relevant experience to bayonnemuralproject@gmail.com or call and leave your contact information at (201) 858-6344.
The project is a community effort of volunteers, and is scheduled to be completed by March 20.
The first Community Development-sponsored mural was completed at 16th Street/DiDomenico Park in 2013.
Retroactive water rate billing by United Water changed, mayor says
City residents who received last-quarter 2014 water bills at newer, higher 2015 rates will be reimbursed for the difference following the city’s intervention, Mayor James Davis said in a press release on Friday, Feb. 6.
According to the release, throughout last week Davis, Bayonne Municipal Utilities Authority Executive Director Tim Boyle, and other administration officials communicated with United Water about the issue.
Their actions had followed reports that United Water was issuing quarterly bills charging the 2015 usage rate for some fourth quarter 2014 water consumption. The higher rates had been established by a 40-year United Water-BMUA contract adopted in 2012, and United Water officials said the type of charge was a historical practice for billing, according to the press release.
However, Davis said he disagreed and told the company he felt this practice was unfair to ratepayers.
United Water has now made a commitment that all residents billed at the higher rate for the last quarter would be credited the applicable overbilled amount, according to Davis.
“The rate coincides with the year, and the new rate did not become effective until Jan. 1, 2015,” Chief of Staff Andrew Casais said. “Water usage after the first will have the new rate applied, but retroactive billing would be an undue burden.”
Poet Kathleen Norris to speak at Saint Peter’s
The Valente and Blihar Families Poetry Series will present poet Kathleen Norris on Thursday, Feb. 12 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at Saint Peter’s University in the Duncan Family Sky Room of the MacMahon Student Center, 47 Glenwood Ave., Jersey City.
Norris is a poet, writer, and author of three New York Times bestsellers, including “The Cloister Walk.”
The Valente and Blihar Series is sponsored by former Bayonne resident Judith Valente Reynard, a journalist and Saint Peter’s University alumna.