| In a fit of hyperbole, Jeff Tittel, political director of the NJ Sierra Club, recently called Governor Corzine the worst environmental governor in New Jersey history. It's clear that Tittel has completely ignored the Corzine administration's work on green energy, and the game Tittel is playing just got more dangerous, with the RGA using his words to run attack ads in support of Chris Christie.
The facts are clear: under Governor Corzine, the state became one of the first in the nation to develop a comprehensive energy master plan to encourage, incentivize and develop green energy in our state.
Not long ago, the AP reported that New Jersey would more than double its capacity for solar, solidifying New Jersey's place as the second-biggest solar state after only California.
But I guess these accomplishments, nor any of dozens of other Corzine initiatives, has, you know, any environmental impact in Tittel's view. Perhaps if Tittel had written the headline to that story, it would have read "Corzine Only Doubles Solar Generation; Presides Over Epic Failure On NJ Solar Power."
Tittel's penchant for hyperbole isn't news, but he has certainly changed his tune in recent days. It was only a few months ago that Tittel was beside himself with praise for Corzine administration DEP commissioner Lisa Jackson, widely known as a champion of science and environmental protection. While she was DEP commissioner, Lisa Jackson was dubbed "one of the best DEP commissioners" in state history by Tittel. When she was nominated, then confirmed, as President Obama's new EPA administrator, Tittel again heaped praise upon Jackson and her record.
That raises a question: how can Governor Corzine have been the worst Governor in New Jersey history on environmental issues while simultaneously appointing one of the best DEP commissioners in state history to develop and execute his policies? There's a simple answer: Tittel's laughable hyperbole has descended into flat out lies.
We already know that this year, we're playing the Governor's race for keeps. Chris Christie has already repeatedly stated his intention to slash the budget and capabilities of the state Department of Environmental Protection to the bone. On the other side is Governor Corzine's strong, while certainly not perfect, record on the environment and green energy. The contrast couldn't be clearer.
Tittel is playing right into the hands of those who would give developers free reign, reduce water quality standards, seek to drill for oil offshore, and otherwise tarnish New Jersey's environment. It's time for Sierra Club members and funders to reign in Tittel, before he helps deliver the very outcomes for New Jersey he is supposedly working to prevent. |
