New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has vetoed a bill that would have streamlined the process of building wind turbines on farmland.
The bipartisan bill, introduced in May by State Rep. Upendra J. Chivukula, D- District 17, would have provided for a ‘streamlined review of certain wind energy generation facility installments on farmland.’
The legislation was passed by both the New Jersey Assembly and Senate in December.
Christie told the Press of Atlantic City that the legislation would undermine the state's Farmland Preservation Program.
‘Although establishing responsible wind energy generation on farmland is an important goal, this bill is too broad and may have the unintended consequence of undermining [the program] by opening preserved farms to large, utility-scale development,’ he said.
