Legislature Needs to Live Up to Compromise and Fix Dark Money Bill Before Law Hurts Progressive Groups
News Article • 6/19/2019 • by Ed Potosnak, Marcia Marley and Saily Avelenda at Insider NJ
The New Jersey Legislature needs to act now to protect our state’s progressive advocates.
For the past several months, the Legislature and Governor Murphy have publicly debated measures aimed at tightening public disclosure requirements for organizations that fight for clean air and drinking water, civil liberties, racial justice and reproductive rights.
While shining a light on Trenton is a laudable goal, the bill that was signed into law by Governor Murphy has serious flaws that both violate the Constitution and threaten progressive advocates.
Edison’s great-grandson condemns lightbulb efficiency standard rollback
News Article • 6/12/2019
Barry Edison Sloane, Thomas Edison’s great-grandson, condemned the Trump administration’s rollback of lightbulb efficiency standards that reduce energy consumption and save consumers billions of dollars each year.
“Today, we stand together to call attention to a roll back of the federal lightning standard that could cost consumers billions, increase air pollution, and take us ten steps back in addressing the climate crisis,” said Ed Potosnak, executive director of the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters. “Federal light bulb standards may seem like a small thing, but in fact they have enormous impacts on our wallets and our environment.”
Congressman Pallone And Edison’s Great-grandson Denounce Roll Back of Lightbulb Efficiency Standards
News Article • 6/7/2019
At a press conference held at the Thomas Edison Center at Menlo Park, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) and Barry Edison Sloane, Thomas Edison’s great-grandson, condemned the Trump Administration’s rollback of lightbulb efficiency standards. They were joined by Ed Potosnak with the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters.
"Clean Energy" Jobs in NJ Nears 55,000, with Hopes for More
News Article • 5/28/2019 • by Michael Symons at New Jersey 101.5
The number of "clean energy" jobs in New Jersey has been increasing steadily the last few years and advocates say could grow faster soon due to a law enacted a year ago Thursday.
To mark the anniversary of Gov. Phil Murphy signing a bill designed to promote the use of renewable energy sources and increase statewide energy efficiency, the nonpartisan business group E2 issued a report that finds there were 51,582 clean-energy jobs in New Jersey in 2017.
That was up from 49,936 in 2016, E2 said. A portion of the data for 2018 was released in March, indicating that the number of clean-energy jobs in New Jersey grew by around 2,800 last year, not including jobs related to clean vehicles and other small categories.
NJ bill derided as a 'rain tax' is law. Here's what it really is and who will pay.
News Article • 3/20/2019 • by Scott Fallon at North Jersey
Towns and counties will have the power to impose fees on property owners to pay for upgrades to antiquated stormwater systems based on how much they contribute to runoff, under a bill signed into law Monday by Gov. Phil Murphy.
COMMUNITIES GET THE OK TO ASSESS FEES TO FUND STORMWATER UTILITIES
News Article • 3/20/2019 • by Tom Johnson at NJ Spotlight
A decade-long battle to give local governments a tool to deal with storm runoff — the state’s biggest source of pollution for streams, rivers, and bays — ended yesterday with Gov. Phil Murphy signing a bill without fanfare that will do just that.
MURPHY HITS BRAKES ON DIVERSION OF FUNDS FROM HOUSING, ENERGY PROGRAMS
News Article • 3/6/2019 • by Tom Johnson and Colleen O'Dea at NJ Spotlight
Gov. Phil Murphy pledged to end the practice of diverting funds from state affordable-housing and clean-energy programs, a budget tactic embraced by previous governors that he had continued, albeit not as aggressively as his predecessors.
Pinelands pipeline in doubt after B.L. England owner quits natural gas plan
News Article • 2/28/2019 • by Russ Zimmer at Asbury Park Press
"Governor Murphy and his administration have steadfastly stood by their commitment to 100 (percent) clean energy by 2050, and because of that, we are beginning to see the makings of a fossil-free New Jersey," said Ed Potosnak, executive director of New Jersey League of Conservation Voters, in a statement this morning.
PANEL OKS SPENDING BILL THAT BOOSTS ROLE OF NONPROFITS IN PRESERVATION PROJECTS
News Article • 1/30/2019 • by Tom Johnson at NJ Spotlight
Lawmakers appear to have settled on a mechanism for allocating constitutionally dedicated funds to preserve open space, farmland, and historic structures for the next fiscal year and beyond.
Climate change in NJ: Grading Phil Murphy's first year
News Article • 1/17/2019 • by Russ Zimmer at Asbury Park Press
Inch by inch, over the next several decades, the Atlantic Ocean is going to claim more of the barrier islands and low-lying coastal areas.
Monsoon-like rainstorms will become more commonplace, as will heat waves in the summer. The Pinelands will be under attack by tree-killing bugs from the South and commercial fishermen will have to adapt to hunting new species of fish.
This is how climate change will manifest in New Jersey, a reality that Gov. Phil Murphy, unlike his predecessor, acknowledges and has pledged to both resist and prepare for.
"Unless we do more (to counter climate change), the question isn’t whether we’ll see another superstorm like Sandy, but simply a question of when,” Murphy said during a speech in Highlands two weeks after his inauguration. “As the densest state in the nation, we can ill afford to keep our heads in the sand when it comes to climate change.“