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| Image credit: Grist |
The New Jersey Environmental Federation is calling on its supporters to travel to Trenton tomorrow (March 15) for what they are calling a Clean Energy Lobby Day.
What do they see as the problem?
“It’s
simple: Our clean energy future is at stake. In addition to cutting $700
million in clean energy funds over the last three years, Gov. Christie wants to
pull New Jersey out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI),
squandering the state’s opportunity for over $680 million in funding for clean
energy over the next 8 years!”
“RGGI is a successful
energy program among 10 northeast states that reduces carbon emissions from
power plants and stimulates economic growth. It also provides a limited number
of tradeable carbon dioxide (CO2) allowances which the states auction off four
times a year. As of last year, the money raised at these auctions totaled $952
million. The funds are used for consumer programs such as energy assistance for
low income households and energy efficient measures. RGGI also creates jobs in
the clean tech sector, one of the most dynamic segments of our state economy.”
“To get New Jersey legislators to
support the No Clean Air Rollback bills (S1322/A1998), which would BLOCK Gov.
Christie from abandoning RGGI, and to stop Gov. Christie from taking more of
our clean energy money away.”
New Jersey’s ’empty seat’ at today’s RGGI auction
By foregoing participation in RGGI, New Jersey lost out on some $10 million today at the RGGI quarterly carbon auction,
according to RGGI advocate Matt Elliott of Environment New Jersey.“New Jersey, once a leader on clean energy solutions, is today a
laggard,” Elliott said. “Governor Christie is letting polluters off the hook
for fouling our air and he’s leaving $10 million in revenue on the table.”
David Pringle of the New Jersey Environmental Federation charged the governor with “failing to both invest in green jobs and
transferring the costs of polluters to the victims of respiratory disease,
taxpayers, and ratepayers.”
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| NJ Gov. Chris Christie |
Democratic leaders in both the Senate and Assembly, eager to confront Republican Governor Chris Christie on the RGGI issue, have posted both bills for floor votes tomorrow.
The state’s largest business organizations oppose the bills, arguing that RGGI drives up the cost of energy for large businesses that already are paying some of the highest energy rates in the country.
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