NJ Chapter Press Releases

Coastal Commission Released from Committee

Mon, 13 May 2013 15:30:44 -0400

As we move forward with rebuilding after Hurricane Sandy we need a process that is transparent and open to the public.This is not best achieved through a Czar but rather a Coastal Commission that looks at rebuilding the shore through regional planning.A Coastal Commission can fully implement adaptation and hazard planning, regional planning, green building codes, and taking steps to prevent future flooding.Establishing a Coastal Commission or Council would coordinate efforts to rebuild along the shore and ensure we protect vital infrastructure and properly plan and zone to keep people and property out of harm's way in the future. Many of the towns do not have funding or resources to do the kind of planning that is needed to rebuild after Sandy.Today the Assembly Environment Committee released A3920 (Barnes) which will establish a Coastal Commission. This is an important day for rebuilding our coast in a smarter and better way.This is the first real step in bringing

Taking COAH Money Means More Sprawl

Thu, 9 May 2013 12:53:06 -0400

Statement by Jeff Tittel Today the Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Constable testified on the proposed DCA budget at the Assembly Budget Committee hearing. The new DCA budget called for stealing between $142 and possibly up to $160 million, which is thousands of housing units. Our Director Jeff Tittel made the following statement in reaction to the hearing today: ....

BPU Puts Solar Program in the Shade

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:22:11 -0400

Yesterday at the BPU meeting New Jersey's solar programs suffered a significant setback.The amount of utility solar and new projects were cut dramatically. ....

HUD Approves NJ Inaction Plan for Coast

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 11:40:26 -0400

Today HUD approved the Governor's Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Action Plan (CDBGDRA Plan) for rebuilding after Hurricane Sandy. Under HUD rules they can only accept or reject the plan.The agency cannot make changes to the plan unless the state agrees to them.HUD did not want to hold up funding for rebuilding unless there were clear violations of HUD rules.The plan continues to be full of vague language, no standards, and no accountability.The plan does not adequately reflect President Obama's Executive Order on Sandy rebuilding or FEMA guidelines and does nothing to help towns do better local planning and coordinate on regional planning.There are no standards on green buildings and energy efficiency.The Sierra Club did not want the plan to be rejected, we wanted it to be improved to better protect our coast. ....

PSEG Taking Over LIPA Bad for NJ

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 11:48:18 -0400

PSEG is currently in negotiations to take over and operating the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA). Jeff Tittel, Director, NJ Sierra Club issued the following statement in response:

"If the deal goes through we will be sending our clean power from New Jersey out to Long Island since they do not have any generation and we will be getting the dirty coal power brought in by the Susquehanna-Roseland Line.PSEG already has Hudson line and the Nautlis line to Long Island so they can ship New Jersey's power out.PSEG is already taking power from the Ridgefield Generating Station and sending it to New York.Ratepayers paid more than a billion dollars to build the natural gas plant and now the power is going out of state."

"This is LIPA-suction, sucking clean power we paid for and sending it to Long Island and replacing it with dirty coal power." ....

Additional $10 Million in Clean Energy Funding Diverted

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 12:44:18 -0400

Today the BPU announced another $10 million is being taken by the Governor from the Clean Energy Funding to close budget gaps.The new clean energy funding proposal allocates $379 million, but the funding will actually be $181 million after the Governor diverts $162 million for the first six months.There is no funding for solar except a small amount for monitoring solar credits, and no funding for onshore wind, offshore wind or wave technology.They are taking $30 million for combined heat and power which use to be funded by RGGI and the Retail Margin Fund.Even though combined heat and power is more energy efficient, it is still fossil fuel based and funding for the program should not come from Clean Energy monies. We expect $105 million for rebates and energy efficiency.When you look at how the budget goes out to 2016 it means the budget will remain relatively flat which predicts the raids will continue. ....

Waiver Rule Challenged in State Supreme Court

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 16:19:36 -0400

Twenty 28 environmental groups are petitioning the State Supreme Court on the DEP Waiver Rule.Columbia Environmental Law Clinic made the filing on behalf of the organizations seeking to block the DEP's Waiver Rule. This comes after an appellate court deferred to the DEP under the agency's discretionary powers.The DEP Waiver Rule is probably the most important rule ever to be challenged. The Waiver Rule is the first rule of its kind to make such broad sweeping changes with the potential to undo 30 years of environment protection.After the devastation of Hurricane Sandy we know that where we protect the environment we did better in protecting property and people from flooding, but where we waiver we do more damage to the environment making this that much more important. ....

Fertilizer Bill Goes into Effect

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 15:49:21 -0400

Today the DEP issued a press release on the implementation of the fertilizer bill.Jeff Tittel, Director, NJ Sierra Club, issued the following statement in response:

"We are glad the fertilizer bill is going into effect.It was a legislative achievement.This is important legislation that will help reduce pollution in our waterways througout the state. Gov. Christie signed the fertilizer bill but he is taking too much credit for a law written by Senator Smith and Assemblyman McKeon.The law would have been much stronger had the administration not opposed early versions of the bill."

"Since the bill has been signed the DEP has been trying to weaken implementation and delay certain parts of the legislation from going forward.They were also trying to waive parts of the bill." ....

AC Lowering Dunes is Losing Bet

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 11:50:17 -0400

Jeff Tittel issued the following statement on Gov. Christie's support of a plan to lower dunes in Atlantic City and the DEP is authorizing it: ....

DEP Coastal Rule Changes are for the Worse

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 11:15:19 -0400

DEP released emergency CAFRA changes today.The administration in rebuilding for Hurricane Sandy is hiding behind these proposed changes to CAFRA.Under this proposal development can be done by permit by rule without an application to the Department of Environmental Protection.This will allow for new construction and even the building of sewer lines for pump outs without permits or oversight.Even the permit by rule authorizes sediment sampling for dredging.Many of the dredged spoils may be contaminated due to what happened during the storm.We could be causing problems later by moving this dredged material and not disposing of it properly. The rules are fairly long and detailed and we will put out more information. ....

JCP&L Rate Increase Request Should Be Denied

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 14:28:31 -0400

JCP&L is currently requesting a 4.8% rate increase for improvements following Hurricane Sandy.It is over $345 million for Hurricane Sandy on top of $31 million from an earlier request.We need our utilities to undertake major updates like in the wake of all the extreme weather events we have experienced, but to fund them responsibly.In the days following Sandy we saw a major failure of our grid and utilities to handle the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

"Instead of the rate payers giving more money to JCP&L, the company should be paying ratepayers for the loss of service, lost business opportunities, and discomfort.This request for a rate increase is like the survivors of the Titanic having to pay an additional fare to use the life boat," said Jeff Tittel, Director, NJ Sierra Club. "BPU needs to turn this rate increase down.They must be the Board of Protecting Us not of Promoting Utilities." Some families were left in the dark

Gov. Signs Fake Farmland Reform Bill

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 14:05:26 -0400

Today the Governor signed S589 (Sweeney), a bill that changes qualifications for the Farmland Assessment program.At a time when property taxes are soaring and farmland is being paved over at historic rates, it has become evident that changes to program are needed. However this legislation only increases the amount of agricultural product revenue from the current $500 annually, set in 1964, to $1000.Based on inflation it should be over $10,000 as done in other states like New York.The legislation doesn't end tax breaks for developers, land speculators or corporate office parks that hide beyond farmland assessment.By qualifying for the program, property owners receive a tax break on land used for agricultural purposed with a minimum of five acres of land. ....

Ocean County Sierra Club Volunteer Honored At White House

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 12:19:12 -0400

Greg Auriemma Recognized as a Champion of Change Today the White House will honor A. Gregory Auriemma of Brick, NJ, along with eleven other community leaders who are "Champions of Change," working to prepare their communities for the consequences of climate disruption.

"I am honored to be recognized as a 'Champion of Change,' and this accolade belongs to all the dedicated NJ Sierra Club activists and supporters, particularly those who belong to the local Ocean County chapter," said Auriemma. "My home and the homes of many of my friends and neighbors in Ocean County were devastated by Superstorm Sandy, and the Sierra Club is working everyday to fight climate disruption and make our nation more resilient with climate solutions like clean energy." Auriemma is the Chair and a founding member of the NJ Ocean Group of the Sierra Club, which has more than 1,500 members and supporters. A personal injury lawyer by day, Gregory's fi

Important Court Win for Highlands TDR Program

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 11:49:29 -0400

An Appellate Division Court has upheld the valuation of Highlands Development Credits (HDCs) as determined by the Highlands Development Credit Bank.Bi County Development challenged the $2.36 million dollar valuation for their 262 acres. The site was not part of a sewer service area, but the developer was pushing for inclusion in a sewer service area prior to the Act being passed and wanted to be compensated on the value if the sewer service area had been granted rather than the value based on development on septics, which was significantly less.There was an agreement between the developer and the town to get sewers as part of an affordable housing development but that was not finalized before the Act was passed.The land is in the Preservation Area so sewers cannot be extended there. The courts rejected this claim because valuation is based on DEP regulations and municipal ordinances prior to the passage of the Highlands Act.The Highlands Act and Plan have now been upheld

Funding Targets Environmentally Sensitive Areas

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 11:48:08 -0400

The Economic Opportunity Act A3680 (Coutinho) will create the largest tax subsidy in state history.This legislation will be up tomorrow before the Assembly Budget Committee.Under this legislation developers who build residential, commercial, or office buildings can get massive tax payer subsidies.First through the EDA bonding billions of dollars for projects and then paying off those tax payer subsidized low coast bonds using the tax revenue that would normally go to state or local coffers.The state will lose billions in revenues while developers get rich at our expense.That loss in revenue could lead to increased taxes or cuts in services for the rest of us since those projects will still need services and infrastructure improvements.Independent studies by groups such as Good Jobs, Green Jobs has shown that these programs do not increase jobs they only enrich the corporations that benefit from the programs.These new office parks and commercial building may cau