Statement of Matt Elliott, Environment New Jersey Global Warming and Clean Energy Advocate
On the day that President-Elect Barack Obama will appoint former DEP Commissioner Lisa Jackson to head the EPA, the NJ DEP and Gov. Corzine released a far-reaching global warming plan developed largely by Commissioner Jackson and her staff.
The plan is the nation’s strongest and most comprehensive plan to slash greenhouse gas emissions. It lays a path for the governor and the legislature to dramatically increase energy efficiency and renewable energy in our buildings, cars, and transportation systems, and to drastically reduce global warming pollution.
The science is clear that global warming is the biggest environmental challenge of the century. This plan is the sort of real leadership we need in NJ and across the country to solve global warming.
We applaud Gov. Corzine and former DEP Commissioner Lisa Jackson for their leadership. Today, the country should celebrate as we have a global warming champion headed to Washington to run the EPA.
The New Jersey global warming plan tackles all major sources of global warming pollution, including transportation, electricity generation, residential and commercial buildings, and industry.
Once finalized, this plan will chart a new energy future in New Jersey – a future that rejects the dirty, dangerous, and expensive energy sources of the past, and embraces clean, renewable, and sustainable energy sources. The recommendations will virtually end our dependence on fossil fuels, grow the economy with new green-collar jobs, clear our air, and set a strong model for the nation to follow in tackling global warming.
The plan recommends state action and policies that will:
- Promote clean, efficient vehicles – including zero emission electric cars – toward a goal of eliminating fossil fuels from the transportation sector.
- Clean up existing power plants, ban new coal-fired power plants, and expand renewable energy such as wind and solar to ensure that all electric sources are carbon-free by 2050. The plan confirms that New Jersey could meet all of its electricity needs – including power for electric vehicles – with only renewable sources.
- Require buildings to meet state of the art efficiency standards and incorporate renewable energy so that, by 2030, every new building will generate more electricity than it consumes.
Other highlights are included below.
Certainly, many challenges lie ahead. As it stands, the plan is just a plan. To achieve the emission reduction goals, the Corzine administration and the state legislature will need to reject industry opposition and fully implement each aspect. Unfortunately, in recent months, the governor has proposed such initiatives as highway widening that will bring more cars and more pollution to our roads. And the state legislature is considering a bill that would put trash incineration – a highly polluting process – on par with wind and solar and eligible for renewable energy credits. Both proposals – and others being considered – highlight the challenges that will arise as we work to move forward and implement the best aspects of this plan.
In addition, while the plan acknowledges that we could meet all of our electricity needs with clean energy sources, it leaves the door open to more nuclear power which damages fragile marine ecosystems and creates highly toxic radioactive waste. And while it includes strong support for clean vehicles, the plan sets modest goals to curb driving and reduce total vehicle miles traveled.
But on the whole, this is a major step toward tackling global warming and promoting clean, efficient energy technologies in New Jersey. We urge the governor and the legislature to act swiftly to adopt the best aspects of this plan without delay.
[Background: In 2007, Gov. Corzine signed Executive Order 54 that supported a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, and 80% below 2006 levels by 2050. The state legislature memorialized the Order and mandated the reductions by passing the Global Warming Response Act in June 2007. The Act directed the NJDEP to develop a plan to meet the 2050 emissions reductions by 2010. The plan will now be subject to a 2+ month public comment period, after which it will be revised and finalized. In October, the gov. finalized a 2020 Energy Master Plan that detailed many of the more immediate global warming strategies for the state.]
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PLAN:
Transportation:
- develop a regional, multi-state low carbon fuel standard that will require fuels to meet increasingly strong standards for global warming pollution
- implement policies to promote zero emission vehicles such as electric cars
- maintain existing mass transit infrastructure, expand rail capacity, and support bus rapid transit
- promote transit-oriented development
- create incentives for the most efficient vehicles on the market, coupled with disincentives for the dirtiest
- ensure that all vehicle miles traveled are “green” (33 MPG or greater) within 15 years
Electricity:
- establish standards for power plants that require fossil fuel-fired plants to be as clean as efficient natural gas plants
- ban new coal-fired power plants
- continue to aggressively increase the use of renewable energy so that all electricity generation is ultimately carbon neutral
- ensure that only clean biofuels are promoted and that full life-cycle emissions are considered
Energy Efficiency – Residential and Commercial Buildings:
- by 2030, all new buildings will combine efficient technologies and renewable energy to reach net zero energy consumption
- support green buildings through enhanced codes and incentives
Other:
- promote waste reduction strategies, including advanced recycling and composting, toward a goal of zero waste production by 2050
- establish the Garden State Climate Fund to identify and promote effective and verifiable offset projects for companies or individuals looking to offset their carbon footprint
