For those worried that the Global Warming Response Act was an unfunded mandate, here's part of the summary of my senator, Bob Smith's bill, S.2976 that would fund it out of profits made from the cap and trade auction on greenhouse gas emissions. I'm told that was the intention when they took the funding out of the original bill.
Authorizes auction of greenhouse gas allowances; establishes "Global Warming Solutions Fund."
This bill would authorize the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to sell, exchange, retire, assign, allocate, or auction allowances from greenhouse gas emissions. The bill sets forth requirements to be followed by the department if allowances are to be conveyed using an auction...
The bill would dedicate any revenues received through the auction or other conveyance of allowances to a special non-lapsing fund, the "Global Warming Solutions Fund." The bill provides that the revenues in the fund up to $70 million per calendar year shall be used for the following purposes:
(1) 60% by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA), to provide grants and other forms of financial assistance to commercial, institutional, and industrial entities to support end-use energy efficiency projects, including but not limited to energy efficiency and renewable energy applications and to develop combined heat and power production facilities and to stimulate or reward investment in the development of innovative carbon emissions abatement technologies with significant carbon emissions reduction potential;
(2) 20% by the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to support programs that are designed to reduce electricity demand in the low-income and moderate-income residential sector with a focus on urban areas, including efforts to address heat island effect and reduce impacts on ratepayers arising from the enactment of this bill into law;
(3) 10% by the DEP to support programs designed to promote local government efforts to plan, develop and implement measures to reduce greenhouse gases, including but not limited to technical assistance to local governments, and the awarding of grants and other forms of assistance to local governments to conduct and implement energy efficiency, renewable energy, and distributed energy programs and land use planning where such grants or assistance results in measurable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions or measurable reductions in energy demand; and
(4) 10% by the DEP to support programs that enhance the stewardship and restoration of the State's forests that provide important opportunities to sequester or reduce greenhouse gases.
Moneys in the fund may also be used to cover the costs incurred by the EDA, the BPU, and the DEP in administering their responsibilities under the bill...
Hopefully, the funding will get passed in the lameduck session.
You may have seen the new stories last week on CARMA, Carbon Monitoring for Action, which aims to make data on power plants worldwide easily available. Their concern is carbon dioxide which is a major greenhouse gas. You can look up individual power plants or geographic regions. They have estimated carbon emissions and energy output for every plant. Intensity is pounds of CO2 emitted per megawatt-hour of electricity produced. High numbers are bad, and earn red symbols on their maps. New Jersey's map looks like this:
Ha, Salem County! It might be minor in terms of state population, but the three nuclear reactors (the green circle in the southwest) almost make it carbon paradise, earning it a blue pentagon. Most of the carbon emissions are from the Carneys Point plant (the westernmost red circle), which is operated by Cogentrix Energy, and owned by (I'd never have guessed) Goldman Sachs! (Does Goldman Sachs control everything in New Jersey?) Why not check through your local power plants and find out what is going on there?
The cars-only lanes on the Turnpike and other highways exist, in large part, because many drivers of cars find the decreased visibility of driving with trucks to be less safe and comfortable. Yet drivers of vehicles that block vision of what's in front of them almost as effectively as semis do are allowed. I'm talking about those SUV, pickups, and in rarer case minvans that are so big they get emissions and/or tax breaks for being trucks.
I need to do more research before I'd absolutely commit to this position, but I think if you're big enough to get perks for being a truck, you don't belong in cars-only spaces.
That's not a position politicians can lead on. It might get majority support, but at least at first, those opposed would likely to care a lot more. So if a change is to happen, we need to push from the outside.
Earlier this year, New Jersey became the third state to enact state-wide anti-global warming legislation. The state Department of Environmental Protection (check out our Climate Change Plan) is charged with making an "emissions inventory" and then work (presumably with stakeholders) to reduce emission levels. This was basically the codifying of a policy set by executive order back in January.
Now Gov. Corzine is jetting to Portugal to take part in a larger effort to disrupt global warming trends. Don't worry - the Governor is paying for the trip himself. But I have to wonder about the inherent hypocrisy of jetting to Europe to talk about reducing greenhouse gas emissions - why not start by not jetting to Portugal? Honestly, haven't these folks heard of internet video conferencing?
But I digress. Take a jump, people. It's good exercise and won't contribute at all to global warming.
Corzine will visit Portugal for a climate change forum with other world leaders which is "expected to announce the formation of the International Carbon Action Partnership":
"It's the end of October, but we still have 70 degree (21 Celsius) weather in Jersey," Corzine spokesman Brendan Gilfillan said. "Global warming is real, and solving it requires real leadership that the Bush White House just isn't showing."
I love it when politicians use yesterday's weather on a tiny sliver of the planet as evidence of global climate trends.
Over the past six or seven months Linda Stender has made a real push on global warming as an issue, even co-sponsoring the landmark legislation reducing emission in New Jersey that brought Al Gore to the signing ceremony.
Yesterday Linda Stender announced that she is running for Congress in NJ7 against Mike Ferguson, a Representative with a mixed environmental record at best. She reiterated it here on Blue Jersey this morning, and yes that comment is really from Linda!
And now on Craig's List it looks like some help from an old fighter in the environmental fields might be coming to NJ7 to offer some help to Linda. Greenpeace is hiring a global warming activistspecifically for NJ7.
We are building a team of savvy, strategic, and experienced organizers to serve as field staff on Project Hot Seat. Our Field Organizers will continue to lead the charge in convincing Congress to take immediate and significant action, and to make Congress accountable to the American public, not to big oil and coal companies.
Greenpeace is hiring organizers who can commit to a position through 2008, beginning October 2007.
This really looks like it's an attempt to target Mike Ferguson and help Linda Stender, though you can't be sure. Parsing the text, though, it says that in 2006 they targeted "candidates" with Project Hot Seat and in 2008 they will target "congressional representatives." That's gotta mean something, maybe ...
Either way, though, it's good to have some activists in NJ7 organizing and helping to bring consensus on the global warming issue.
The gig pays $30,000 a year "full benefits including paid medical and dental, generous paid vacation package and more" but the deadline for applying is tomorrow. If you are interested, PLEASE APPLY NOW.
Too often we get people from outside NJ who don't understand the district and how to get things done here! Hopefully some quality Blue Jerseyan is out there looking for work and can take advantage of this opportunity!
While global warming is indeed a global problem, we must take action at the local levels to begin making a real difference to combat climate change. I am proud to say that we are taking some serious and immediate action here in New Jersey.
Last Friday was a great day. A terrific day. It was one of those moments that, as a legislator, you dream of. It's why I got into public service in the first place. And I was so proud to stand beside Governor Corzine as he signed the Global Warming Response Act into law. The fact that this transpired mere minutes after Al Gore spoke about the historic significance of this new legislation made it that much sweeter.
In the glaring absence of a federal policy to address climate change on a national level, it is up to the states to take the lead in reducing global warming-causing emissions before it is too late. Considering New Jersey's high energy demand, the Global Warming Response Act will indeed make a significant difference on a world-wide scale.
I first introduced this legislation over a year ago, and today I am proud to say that New Jersey is establishing the strictest standards in the nation. We might have been second, after California, but our new rules are tougher. Unlike other state measures that mandate reductions by 2020, this groundbreaking legislation requires an 80% reduction of global warming emission levels by 2050. These are the limits scientists say are necessary to avoid the worst impacts of global warming.
"In the absence of leadership on the federal level, the burden of reducing greenhouse gases has now fallen upon the states. I'm proud that New Jersey is one of the first among a handful of states that are leading the nation to combat global warming and I hope more states will follow in our model."
Senator Barbara Buono:
"Global warming is the issue that will define the early 21st century. It touches every aspect of American life - economics, the environment, international security - and is a problem New Jersey can no longer afford to avoid. Our children and grandchildren will look back to today and recognize it as one of the major turning points in the battle against climate change."
Assemblywoman Linda Stender:
"Today, New Jersey becomes a leading force in the global fight against climate change and promoting new technologies and strategies to counteract greenhouse gas emissions. Our country has come to a critical juncture on global warming: we can take action now to protect public health and our environment, or we can dawdle and pay a steep price later for failing to act. President Bush may be in denial about global warming, but New Jersey isn't."
Al Gore will be in New Jersey tomorrow to join Jon Corzine for the signing of the "Global Warming Response Act." "Vice President Gore has done more than anyone to promote awareness of global warming," said Corzine, "and I thank him for his tremendous leadership and advocacy. I am proud that he will be in New Jersey to witness the signing of this legislation, which places into state law my Executive Order calling for some of the most sweeping reductions in greenhouse emissions in the nation."
Yesterday, Scott Garrett stood alone among New Jersey Congressmen when he voted to eliminate language from an appropriations bill expressing the sense of Congress that global warming is a real problem policymakers must address. Joe Barton (R-Big Oil) offered the amendment striking the following language from the Department of the Interior appropriations bill:
SEC. 501. (a) The Congress finds that--
(1) greenhouse gases accumulating in the atmosphere are causing average temperatures to rise at a rate outside the range of natural variability and are posing a substantial risk of rising sea-levels, altered patterns of atmospheric and oceanic circulation, and increased frequency and severity of floods, droughts, and wildfires;
(2) there is a growing scientific consensus that human activity is a substantial cause of greenhouse gas accumulation in the atmosphere; and
(3) mandatory steps will be required to slow or stop the growth of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.
(b) It is the sense of the Congress that there should be enacted a comprehensive and effective national program of mandatory, market-based limits and incentives on emissions of greenhouse gases that slow, stop, and reverse the growth of such emissions at a rate and in a manner that (1) will not significantly harm the United States economy; and (2) will encourage comparable action by other nations that are major trading partners and key contributors to global emissions.
Twelve New Jersey Congressmen voted against the amendment and to preserve the language in the bill. Scott Garrett, true to his anti-science, anti-New Jersey record, voted for the Barton amendment.
Garrett also voted to drastically cut funding for the EPA, a position he shared with not a single other Republican from either New York or New Jersey. Then, after missing a vote, he gave New Jersey the finger when he once voted yet again in favor oil drilling off the Jersey shore.
NJ-05 may be a Republican district, but Scott Garrett's no mainstream Republican. He's so far right, he puts his ideology ahead of his constituents' interest, and he's the laughingstock of the delegation. North Jersey needs a congressmen who puts New Jersey ahead of big oil, which is why Scott Garrett needs to go.
The great news is that New Jersey is waking up and taking historic action on the issue of global warming. This can't be overstated. New Jersey's legislature is saying that this is a priority for us and is once again leading the nation on a critical issue.
The measure (A-3301) - the Global Warning Response Act -- would require the level of greenhouse gas emissions in the state to be rolled back to at least 1990 levels by the year 2020. It also would require greenhouse gas emissions not to exceed 80 percent below 2006 emission levels by 2050. [...]
To accomplish these goals, the measure would authorize the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to conduct an inventory of the current, 2006, and 1990 statewide greenhouse gas emissions no later than one year after the bill's enactment.
I wish I were making this next part up. Despite taking such a bold move, the legislature caved to the business lobby (and other budget pressures no doubt) and amended the bill earlier this week to strip the funding for the department tasked to help identify and solve this problem:
COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS: The committee amendments to the bill: [...]
2) delete the DEP's authority to charge fees sufficient to cover the department's costs to administer the requirements of the bill to those entities required to report greenhouse gas emissions, and delete the corresponding language creating the "Greenhouse Gas Emissions Control Fund" and concerning the appropriation of those fees;
That doesn't make any sense. This is my biggest frustration with government. Science and 'facts' always seem to take a back seat to other powerful interests. Even while demonstrating that they get this issue and will go further than anyone else to address it, they expect the Department of Environmental Protection to play musical chairs and do more work with the same resources.
If you want sound policy, you need sound facts. We're talking about making changes that could fundamentally alter our economy and someone thought this was the way to try to save a few bucks?
At the presentation of the Inconvenient Truth slide show on Saturday, we got a reminder from Linda Stender to call our state senator Bob Smith, chair of the senate environment committee to encourage him to move her NJ Global Warming Response Act out of committee. The bill calls for a reduction in carbon emissions 20% by 2020. The assembly won't get to it until the assembly budget period is over, May at the earliest.
HIGHLAND PARK - Two of New Jersey's most eco-friendly officials visited the borough's senior center Saturday in support of Step It Up 2007, a nationwide day of action on global warming. They joined local residents for a slide show on climate change. "The federal government has failed us miserably," said state Assemblywoman Linda Stender, D-Union, who brought New Jersey's Global Warming Response Act to the Legislature. "States and cities are holding themselves responsible, as we should all do." Stender said she takes action in her home by limiting showers to five minutes, driving a hybrid car and taking cloth bags to the supermarket instead of using disposable plastic ones.
Borough resident Tina Weishaus presented the slide show, highlighting the science behind global warming and emphasizing a need for action. Weishaus noted that New Jersey can expect to face coastal flooding, drinking water contamination by salt water and an influx of non-native species that thrive in warmer temperatures, including pests and diseases such as West Nile virus. Weishaus also cited a report by former World Bank economist Sir Nicholas Stern, who said global warming could cost the world $9 trillion...
"Everything that we do in Highland Park, we do green," said Mayor Meryl Frank... Other green initiatives include planting 100 trees at Centennial Park - trees absorb carbon dioxide - and creating a "rain garden" to trap polluted rainwater and filter it through gravel and sand before it trickles into the Raritan River, the mayor said. Also, the Borough Hall is powered by solar panels.
Though as we learned it's better to plant trees closer to the equator.
After the slide show, Weishaus led participants to the sidewalk in front of Stop & Shop on Raritan Avenue, where the group held up signs demanding an 80 percent cut in carbon-dioxide emissions by 2050...
"The urgency really gets you," said Dallas Grove, an Ocean Township resident who traveled to the borough for the day of action. "Global warming has gone beyond a concept into, "What do we do today, tomorrow and this year?' "
Christie rejected a call to investigate Corzine's gifts to Katz. That's the kind of restraint that got other USAG's fired. He is (reportedly) seeking info on Sharpe James.
Assemblyman Jeff Van Drew wants to legalize sports betting. My first thought is that this could be a move to build support to challenge Frank LoBiondo, but then again, I might be totally off base.
By the way, at Blue Jersey we are using the tags of the form "LD3" and "LD37" to refer to legislative districts. "NJ3", etc. are reserved for the congressional districts.
PSEG CEO Ralph Izzo called for tough greenhouse gas limits in front of Congress, breaking with most utility executives.
Public Service Announcement I: Several MVC offices are unable to process licenses due to a verizon glitch. Is this the place to complain that not only did my verizon service not work last night, but the outsourced call center employees who read off scripts are completely useless? If you have a phone line problem, you get a knowledgable union guy, but DSL is hopeless.
Public Service Annoucement II: New schedules for buses and trains are going into effect.
Finally, Cynthia Burton of the Inquirer observes that the Republican state senate delegation is moving right as moderates retire:
"It's inevitable we are going to get more conservatives because a bunch of the people retiring are not conservative," said Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll (R., Morris), one of a handful of conservative legislators who refer to themselves as the Mountain Men.
I imagine that the name "Mountain Men" was chosen to signal how out of touch the group is with New Jersey. jmelli has already noted the racial angle. Another interesting quote is here:
Kevin Collins, a conservative Republican strategist, has been advising clients for years to run to the right. He's working on the "Reagan Republican Team" race in Bergen, Passaic and Essex Counties.
Collins says the party can get support from socially conservative Democrats - the kind who voted for President Ronald Reagan - with more conservative candidates.
Congressman Rothman, a member of the House Science & Technology Committee, attended today's hearing where Al Gore testified before Congress about the dangers of global warming. He spoke with Gore before the hearing and later issued this statement:
"The former Vice President rightly noted that twenty to thirty years from now, our children and their children will ask us what we did to save our planet. I want to answer that I helped pass the kind of stringent and effective limits on greenhouse gas emissions that Vice President Gore spoke about today.
"Al Gore has earned my gratitude not only for his service as Vice President for eight prosperous years, but also for his 16 years as a hardworking, thoughtful, and productive member of the House and Senate. His work on global warming, starting some 30 years ago through his present worldwide efforts on this subject, increases the pressure on Congress to take action now.
"I am proud that the new Democratic Leadership has not turned its back on the 'inconvenient truth' of global warming. House Democrats have already passed legislation to end government subsidies for the oil and gas industries and dramatically increase our investment in the research and development of cleaner, alternative energy resources. I look forward to taking even bigger steps in the future - most importantly, mandatory limits on the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that can be emitted into the atmosphere."
(Seated left to right: Al Gore, box, Steve Rothman)
Superior Court Judge Linda Feinberg, who has been monitoring the state's ability to meet deadlines to retrofit electronic voting machines with paper printouts, yesterday urged the Attorney General's Office to appoint an advisory panel of computer experts for voting machines. Currently voting machines are approved by volunteers who are not required to have any computer knowledge nor have any legal authority to force voting machine vendors to offer up their code for inspection.
The Star-Ledger is reporting that Gov. Corzine did amend his personal financial disclosure reports for 2002-2004 to include the $470,000 mortgage he gave and forgave to Carla Katz. Corzine's lawyer Mark Elias said it was to avoid a battle with the U. S. Senate Ethics committee. The mortgage could have been deemed an "asset" in Corzine's portfolio, but any other gifts would not have been disclosed because would not have been so designated.
Meanwhile, Katz is on the defense as presidents of some CWA locals have taken to criticizing her, saying she's just trying to appear tough by disapproving of the proposed contract. The executive board of her own Local 1034 is supporting her.
The Herald has a lovely description of New Jersey's future with global warming as seen by Jonathan Adams, a Rutgers Newark ecology professor. Al Gore will be testifying tomorrow in front of the Senate Science and Technology Committee and the House Energy and Commerce Committee about the global warming crisis.
If global warming causes the Greenland Ice Cap to melt, sea levels will rise by about 7 meters (over 20 feet). Here's a neat map of Salem County after the flood, based on Google Earth and NASA data. (Use the arrows to move north or east, or zoom out).
(hattip to dailykos diarist NNadir who led me to these maps. You might want to check out his diary about the Oyster Creek nuclear reactor.)
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