**Updated on July 26, 2012 to add more related news stories**

The New Jersey Sierra Club, which pulled out all the stops to oppose Republican Chris Christie’s gubernatorial campaign more than two years ago–and has issued almost daily news releases criticizing him since his election–was almost gracious today after Christie signed a bill to save the state’s endangered solar energy industry.

No, we are not missing the real news story here–the signing of the bill. That was expected.

The man-bites-dog event was the Sierra Club saying something positive about the Christie administration.

Today they had no choice. So they did.

Sort of.

Christie signed into law S-1925, a bill that won bipartisan support after many months of haggling among solar industry interests, electric utilities, big business organizations, the NJ Board of Public Utilities, and the state’s Ratepayer Advocate.  (For details on the legislation, see related stories below).

The environmental community, including the Sierra Club, was solidly behind the legislation.

One green organization, Environment New Jersey, today said, graciously, of the signing:

“Today
we applaud the Legislature and the governor for supporting a bill to help New
Jersey continue to be the nation’s solar leader.  We are pleased that the
measure passed both houses of the Legislature with overwhelming bi-partisan
support, reflecting the people of New Jersey’s strong support for clean, renewable
energy, regardless of party affiliation. And we applaud Governor Christie
for signing the bill into law today. 

The Sierra Club, which issues statements on every major environmental bill and frequently on issues that have only tenuous connections to the environment (affordable housing, women’s health etc.) could hardly dodge this one. Even if Enemy #1 –Chris Christie, who they claim is on a mission to undo all essential environmental protections, actually did something that they advocated.

So, in paragraph two of his release today, Sierra Club Director Jeff Tittel said:

• The dramatic decrease in solar was due in part to the failed policies of
  the Christie administration to help keep the solar industry in our state
  afloat.



• The Administration
  has eliminated the rebates for families and residents to put solar on their
  homes and have made it difficult for small projects to get Solar Renewable
  Energy Credits

• The Governor has been
  diverting money that could have gone towards solar and offshore wind projects
  for his budget. 

• The Governor has
  given $2 billion to subsidies for natural gas power plants, while eliminating
  programs for solar and renewable energy. 

Etc, etc etc. 

Governor Christie signs New Jersey solar legislation 
Christie signs solar rescue bill
Christie Signs Solar Bill Increasing N.J. Energy Requirement
Solar ‘resurrection bill’ will keep spotlight on vital industry 
N.J. aims to reinvigorate solar energy development  
Solar industry to get a boost  New Jersey solar bill risks ‘triggering new SREC crash’