Posts Tagged ‘New Jersey’

New Jersey Offshore Wind

Written by Mike Pisauro on October 14th, 2008 in Global Warming, Ocean, Renewable Energy | No Comments »

On Friday, October 3rd, the State came took a first, small step closer to its goal of having an offshore wind farm.  BPU announced that it has awarded a $4 million dollar grant to Garden State Offshore Energy for its proposal.  Garden State Offshore Energy proposed to build a 345.6 megawatt farm about 16 miles off the coast of Atlantic City.  This grant is the result of the State’s blue ribbon panel on offshore wind.  The panel recommended back in April 2006 that the State should seek a pilot program of up to 350 megawatts.  The panel’s recommendation was the result of a December 23, 2004 executive order setting up the panel and placing a moratorium on off-shore wind until the panel made its recommendations.  ( I am going to have to do a longer more comprehensive entry on the panel’s recommendations at a later time.)

Then on Monday October 6th, the Governor came out with an amazing announcement.  The State has announced that it is going to be the leader in offshore wind within the United States.  According to the Governor:

“Today, I am announcing that we’re not just doubling our commitment, we’re tripling it. New Jersey will support and encourage the development of 3,000 MW of wind power off its coast by 2020, which will be 13 percent of its total electricity. And we will get to 1,000 MW by 2012.”

While the Governor. in the original press release from BPU, called New Jersey a leader in renewable energy, that claim was strengthened by his announcement three days latter.  It seems that NJ is a leader on offshore wind at least on paper.  What this means is that of the five companies that submitted proposals to the BPU for offshore wind, at least two more companies will get a chance to move forward and start the lengthy process of siting, permitting and installing wind farms.  This is a major commitment to renewable energy.

There still many obstacles that must be overcome before the first monopole is placed in the seabed.  There are too many people who do not want a wind farm off of our coast because of its “visual pollution,” possible impacts on the tourist economy, or for some other reason.

The Governor’s announcement also changed the game somewhat.  The original proposal of the Blue Ribbon Panel was to begin with a pilot program.  What the Governor has announced is not a pilot program but a bold and necessary vision of the future.  Instead of installing 350 megawatts of offshore wind the goal is 1,000 megawatts by 2012 and 3,000 megawatts of renewable energy by 2020.  We need to install as much renewable energy as possible if we are have any chance of meeting the State’s goal of reducing our greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020.  This is a very good start.  I hope that this not a greenwashing moment but a true committment by this administration.

New Federal Global Warming Bill

Written by Mike Pisauro on June 3rd, 2008 in Clean Air, Global Warming | No Comments »

Two weeks ago, Sen. Boxer (D) introduced a new bill to address global warming. The Bill S2555 would overturn the EPA decision to deny California’s petition for the ability to enforce enhanced emissions on motor vehicles. I believe this was the first time a California request for a waiver was ever denied.

The Clean Air Act preempts state regulation of motor vehicle emissions. Because California was experiencing some of the worst air pollution in the County, California was granted special rights to request a waiver of this federal preemption. Once California receives a waiver from EPA than other states may adopt the California regulations as their own. New Jersey, and several other states, have already put into place regulations adopting the California regulations pending California’s receipt of a federal waiver. For those of you interested in reading NJ’s proposal it can be found here.

Motor vehicles are responsible for approximately 34% of New Jersey’s emissions. Therefore, for New Jersey to reach the goals under the Global Warming Act, NJ is going to have to address the transportation’s impact on global warming. Sen. Boxer’s bill is one step in addressing motor vehicle’s contribution to the situation and undoes just another roadblock set up by the Bush administration.

New Jersey speaks for the Red Knot

Written by Mike Pisauro on March 18th, 2008 in Endangered Species | No Comments »

Yesterday, the New Jersey Senate passed unanimously S1331 which would put in place a moratorium on the harvesting of horseshoe crabs.  The Assembly previously passed A2260.  Now, it is up to the Governor to sign the bill into law.

As noted in my previous entry , horseshoe crab eggs are vital to the survival of the red knot as well as other shorebirds.  The red knot, without protection, is expected to become extinct by 2010.  It is with great hope that this moratorium on the red knots’ food will reverse the path towards extinction. 

That the red knot is on the road to extinction and that the New Jersey legislature had to enact a ban is a very sad commentary.  It is a sad commentary because current law was not enough to protect the red knot and that some on the Marine Fisheries Council decided to act in short sighted self interest instead of following the science and ultimately in their own long term interest.

That a ban was necessary is a sad because the red knot is listed as threatened under New Jersey’s Endangered and Nongame Species Conservation Act.  It is also listed under the United States Migratory Bird Treaty Act.  Under both laws it is unlawful to “take” a listed species.  The definition of ‘take’ is very broad.  Under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, “it shall be unlawful at any time, by any means or in any manner, to pursue, hunt, take, capture, kill, attempt to take, capture or kill,” a listed species.  One would think this was enough to protect these birds, but it is not.  One would think that protecting the food source for an endangered species would be a paramount protection under these acts, but apparently it is not.

As the protections that were in place are not enough, the moratorium had to be pursued.   Thankfully the sponsors of the bills and the environmental advocates moved quickly and courageously to see that red knot would not be another victim of short sighted policies.

NJ has new environmental legislation- Part I

Written by Mike Pisauro on January 16th, 2008 in Clean Up, Global Warming, Ocean, Recycling, Renewable Energy | No Comments »

The Governor has recently signed new legislation dealing with the environment. Some of it is good and some of it is not so good. The following are the bills he has signed over the last couple of days:

Electronic Waste Recycling Act. Generally this law requires that computers, tv, monitors and some other electronic devices are recycled and not thrown away.

Certification program for renewable energy. P.L. 2007 c. 264. The law requires BPU to set up a certification program for installers of renewable energy systems.

State Green Buildings. P.L. 2007, c.269. The law requires all new governmental building of at least 15,000 square feet to meet either the silver rating from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System or two globes from th Green Globes Program.

Site remediation notice. P.L. 2007, c.276. The bill requires those performing site remediation to provide written notice to the county health department and local health agency. Also these agencies and municipality to request a copy of the remediation action work plan.

Public notice for shore protection projects. P.L. 2007, c.278. Requires DEP to hold a public meeting for comments on shore protection programs once the feasibility study is complete.

NJ Coastal and Ocean Protection Council. P.L. 2007, c.288. For more info see link.

Net Metering. P.L. 2007, c.300. Provides net metering to not only residential but industrial and large commercial customers. Also increases that amount of energy produced from renewable energy from 0.1% to 2.5% of the State’s peak energy level before a utility may cease providing for net metering.

Recycling Enhancement Act. P.L. 2007, c.311. The law reasserts the State’s commitment to recycling and funds municipal and county recycling programs through a $3.00 per ton charge on solid waste facilities.

There are several more bills which I will write about shortly.

Welcome to NJ Environmental Blog

Written by Mike Pisauro on January 7th, 2008 in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Welecome to my first blog. With this blog I will look at environmental issues affecting New Jersey. In upcoming entries I will be talking about global warming, RGGI, renewable energy, and coastal issues. If there is a topic you would like to read about, please let me know at Mike@fplegal.com

-Mike Pisauro