Enck has a strong environmental record. She was involved in forcing the DEP to clean up PCBs in the Hudson River, which directly affected New Jersey. She worked on helping to set up RGGI, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. She has been critical in cleaning up toxic sites from Long Island to the Canadian border.

.... ]]> http://newjersey.sierraclub.org/PressReleases/0094.asp Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:40:45 -0400 A4DDD36969E040008D958C2EF38D3555_at_scnjPCHPDV6000 Today, October 30, National Weatherization Day is an important opportunity to remind people of the value of investing in energy efficiency and to reassess New Jersey's energy efficiency policies. The Sierra Club regrets that a recent study shows New Jersey is no longer considered one of the top ten states in efficiency efforts.

The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy released their 2009 scorecard which showed New Jersey has dropped from the list of "Top Ten States," and is one of the only states to do so. The report finds that New Jersey has failed to establish a clear path toward implementing its goals.

.... ]]> http://newjersey.sierraclub.org/PressReleases/0093.asp Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:42:11 -0400 014e01ca565b$44d06080$6501a8c0_at_SCNJ06 While we applaud the BPU for attending the opening of a solar panel plant today in Millville, it is unfortunate that DEP rules make it easier to build a solar factory than a solar farm.

The DEP's attempt to upgrade the Coastal Program rules for wind and solar energy installations fall short of enabling the state to meet its renewable energy goals. Instead, these rules present a new series of roadblocks that will make it very difficult and even impossible to put up windmills or solar installations in the coastal area. .... ]]> http://newjersey.sierraclub.org/PressReleases/0092.asp Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:42:26 -0400 01e201ca4b6b$bf71a380$6501a8c0_at_SCNJ06 Governor Jon Corzine is letting the weakened EnCap Reform Bill stand and signing it without it being any real reform. With all of the indictments and corruption over development that has taken place in New Jersey, the failure to have any kind of meaningful reform is outrageous. In fact, in some areas, this bill loosens oversight over existing regulations.

This bill was originally intended to strengthen oversight when public money is involved. Instead, it has been so weakened that it is a sham. All this bill will do is give cover to pay to play and other abuses of public money without providing any real oversight.

.... ]]> http://newjersey.sierraclub.org/PressReleases/0091.asp Fri, 9 Oct 2009 12:32:30 -0400 004d01ca48fe$19010230$6501a8c0_at_SCNJ06 An EPA report released today reveals that 13 counties in New Jersey are among the worst when it comes to air quality. The report said the 13 urban counties have failed to meet the EPA's daily standards for fine particle air pollution, putting the region's residents at risk for health complications like asthma, heart attacks, and premature death.

It's no coincidence the report reveals that more than half of the counties in the state have dangerously dirty air as a result of particulate matter and soot. In recent years, these urban counties have been subject to contamination from highway widenings, sprawl, dirty coal plants, refineries, pollution from ports, and a lack of restrictions on diesel emissions and incinerators.

"The EPA report clearly shows that New Jersey's air quality is unhealthy to its citizens in a majority of counties. The state is not doing enough to address these problems," NJ Sierra Club Director Jeff Tittel said. .... ]]> http://newjersey.sierraclub.org/PressReleases/0090.asp Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:03:44 -0400 013501ca37b8$d0f8d900$6501a8c0_at_SCNJ06

"The Highlands Council is more concerned about protecting the profits of utility companies than they are about protecting the Highlands," said NJ Sierra Club Director Jeff Tittel. "It's outrageous that within just a few months, the Highlands Council has sold out the Highlands yet again."

This pipeline proposal will cut a trench from one side of the Highlands to the other through some of the region's most important environmentally-sensitive areas, including the watersheds of North Jersey's largest water supply reservoirs. .... ]]> http://newjersey.sierraclub.org/PressReleases/0089.asp Tue, 08 Sep 2009 16:45:10 -0400 4AA6C256.3020200_at_pobox.com

"With uncontrolled sprawl, water quality problems, and air quality problems - as well as other environmental issues - it's more important than ever for voters to make their voices heard at the polls regarding the environment," said Richard Isaac, New Jersey Sierra Club Political Chair.

"The Sierra Club endorsement is like the good housekeeping seal of approval. It's the green seal of approval showing that the candidates care about the environment," said NJ Sierra Club Director Jeff Tittel.

The New Jersey Sierra Club's endorsement process involves mailing questionnaires to candidates of both major parties, an interview process, and voting by two different deliberative bodies within the Club to determine which candidates best meet their environmental standards.... ]]> http://newjersey.sierraclub.org/PressReleases/0088.asp Thu, 27 Aug 2009 12:13:58 -0400 013501ca2731$62b06a90$6501a8c0_at_SCNJ06

"This audit should be an alarm bell going off for the people of New Jersey," NJ Sierra Club Director Jeff Tittel said. "DEP is not doing its job when it comes to protecting the environment for the state's residents. There are real consequences, especially when it comes to site remediation. The lack of oversight may allow people to live on sites that have not been properly cleaned up, putting them at risk." .... ]]> http://newjersey.sierraclub.org/PressReleases/0087.asp Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:54:44 -0400 015801ca25ad$2153a420$6501a8c0_at_SCNJ06 The court ruled that even if a community has met its affordable housing obligations and has been certified by COAH as being in compliance, developers can still overturn local zoning to build affordable housing projects.

What is so outrageous about this decision is that it overturns other case law that is more on point, including the Mount Laurel II decision, which says as long as the town meets in affordable housing obligation it can zone the rest of the town in the manner deemed appropriate.

"This decision declares open season on local towns and their zoning," NJ Sierra Club Director Jeff Tittel said. .... ]]> http://newjersey.sierraclub.org/PressReleases/0086.asp Mon, 17 Aug 2009 13:22:28 -0400 006301ca1f5f$4c696450$6501a8c0_at_SCNJ06

"By endorsing Chris Daggett for governor, the Sierra Club not only made the principled choice but the right choice," NJ Sierra Club Director Jeff Tittel said. "Chris Daggett has shown leadership and a real commitment to protecting our environment. He has demonstrated his willingness to stand up to special interests and politicians to do what's right for the environment. It's very rare when you have the opportunity to endorse someone of such principle and integrity with a broad background in environmental issues." .... ]]> http://newjersey.sierraclub.org/PressReleases/0085.asp Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:24:35 -0400 007101ca1b69$621e4f30$6501a8c0_at_SCNJ06 Our logo cannot be used without the club's permission. The logo is trademarked and can only be used by the club and candidates who have received a Sierra Club endorsement.

The compliance department of the national Sierra Club will be sending a cease and desist letter to the Republican Governor's Association asking them to remove the advertisement.

Kara Seymour, Program Assistant NJ Sierra Club

145 W. Hanover Street Trenton, NJ 08618

609.656.7612

(f) 609.656.7618

<http://www.newjersey.sierraclub.org> www.newjersey.sierraclub.org .... ]]> http://newjersey.sierraclub.org/PressReleases/0084.asp Thu, 6 Aug 2009 12:48:39 -0400 523185AE355847CAAD2B626749CD9AFB_at_scnjPCHPDV6000 Trenton - Earlier this summer, Governor Corzine signed legislation (A3372/S2340) requiring prevailing wage for any programs that receive financial assistance from the Board of Public Utilities. Prevailing wage, the pay for government construction projects, can be double the average industry wage. The Sierra Club is concerned that this legislation will have a chilling effect on the growth of green jobs and clean energy projects in the state.

"We support having prevailing wage for governmental contracts, but we are concerned that the broad sweep of this law will undermine the intent of the BPU's Clean Energy Programs - protecting the environment and saving consumers money," said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. .... ]]> http://newjersey.sierraclub.org/PressReleases/0083.asp Thu, 30 Jul 2009 12:46:13 -0400 012a01ca1135$406f5f20$6501a8c0_at_SCNJ06

"Governor Corzine could have done the right thing and invalidated the council's vote, which was an outrageous abuse of power and breach of public trust, but chose not to," NJ Sierra Club Director Jeff Tittel said. "Instead, he will let shameful record stand."

By not vetoing the minutes, Gov. Corzine took the side of polluters, corruption, and dirty power, instead of siding with integrity and clean energy. .... ]]> http://newjersey.sierraclub.org/PressReleases/0082.asp Mon, 27 Jul 2009 13:29:03 -0400 016f01ca0edf$bcba6af0$6501a8c0_at_SCNJ06 http://newjersey.sierraclub.org/PressReleases/0081.asp Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:17:32 -0400 010f01ca0bc1$d945e2b0$6501a8c0_at_SCNJ06 Today's news that more than 30 New Jersey politicians have been arrested in a corruption probe demonstrates the need for Governor Corzine to tighten reform in the state instead of weaken it.

Both the state Stimulus Bill (S2299/A4048) and the EnCap Reform Bill (S1769/A2650) have passed through the legislature and are awaiting the Governor's signature. However, in light of today's news, the NJ Sierra Club is urging the Governor to add prohibitions against pay to play and other reforms to the Stimulus Bill. The bill, which gives away billions of dollars of taxpayer money with no oversight, is a scandal waiting to happen.

The NJ Sierra Club is also calling on Governor Corzine to conditionally veto the EnCap Reform Bill so that it can be strengthened to provide for appropriate oversight. This bill would exempt Jersey City and Hoboken from oversight and today's headlines show why that's outrageous.