NJ gentlemen, start your (very quiet) Tesla engines


“Almost exactly one year after his administration 
stopped Tesla from selling electric cars at its New Jersey showrooms, Gov. Chris Christie has signed a law to allow it to restart sales,” Matt Friedman reports this afternoon for NJ.com.

“I said last year that if the Legislature changed the law, I would sign new legislation put on my desk and that is exactly what I’m doing today,” Christie said in a statement. “We’re pleased that manufacturers like Tesla will now have the opportunity to establish direct sales operations for consumers in a manner lawfully in New Jersey.” 

Christie got heat from the company — as well as commentators on the right and left — for his administration’s enforcement of a 1970s era law that requires cars be sold through dealerships, even though Tesla had been selling its cars at its Paramus and Short Hills showrooms for some time. 

Tesla has kept those show rooms open, but has not been able to sell the cars — which start at around $70,000 — or discuss pricing. Now, the company will be able to restart sales and open up to two more shops.

Read the full story here.

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Environment, Energy bills up tomorrow in Trenton

A busy day tomorrow in the New Jersey Legislature for energy and environment legislation. Here’s the lineup:

ASSEMBLY JUDICIARY
10:00 AM
Committee Room 12, 4th Floor, State House Annex
The committee will receive testimony from invited guests and the public
on the proposed $225 million settlement agreement between the NJ Attorney
General’s Office and ExxonMobil
for the environmental damage caused by Exxon.
For consideration:
A-4281  McKeon, J.F. (D-27); Schaer, G.S. (D-36);
Prieto, V. (D-32)
Amends Fiscal Year 2015 budget to provide one-half of
certain environmental damage amounts recovered are appropriated for costs of
remediation, restoration, and clean up.
Related Bill: S-2791
      
A-4307  McKeon, J.F. (D-27)
Increases required public notice from 30 days to 60
days for settlements entered into by DEP pursuant to Spill Compensation and
Control Act.
      
S-2791  Sacco, N.J. (D-32); Sarlo, P.A. (D-36)
Amends Fiscal Year 2015 budget to provide one-half of
certain environmental damage amounts recovered are appropriated for costs of
remediation, restoration, and clean up.
Related Bill: A-4281      
 _______________________________________________________________________
ASSEMBLY TRANSPORTATION AND INDEPENDENT AUTHORITIES
10:00 AM
Committee Room 11, 4th Floor, State House Annex
The committee will take testimony concerning the current status and
health of the Transportation Trust Fund.
For discussion:
A-4151  Wisniewski, J.S. (D-19); Singleton, T. (D-7);
Lagana, J.A. (D-38)
Establishes State Transportation Infrastructure Bank
Fund within New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust.
Posted for discussion only 
_______________________________________________________________________
ASSEMBLY ENVIRONMENT AND SOLID WASTE
2 PM
Committee Room 9, 3rd Floor, State House Annex,
For consideration:
A-1586  Spencer, L.G. (D-29)
“Comprehensive Regulated Grease Recycling
Act.”
      
 A-1738  Eustace, T. (D-38); Wimberly, B.E. (D-35);
Gusciora, R. (D-15)
Establishes Capture, Control, and Conserve Reward
Rebate Program in DEP to encourage property owners to implement certain
techniques to conserve water or control stormwater runoff.
     
A-3169  Greenwald, L.D. (D-6); Vainieri Huttle, V.
(D-37); Webber, J. (R-26)
Requires DEP to submit annual financial report on
status of certain fund balances.
      
A-3954  Conaway, H. (D-7); Singleton, T. (D-7);
Spencer, L.G. (D-29)
Requires maximum contaminant level to be established
for 1,2,3-trichloropropane in drinking water.
    
A-4047  Eustace, T. (D-38); Spencer, L.G. (D-29);
Lampitt, P.R. (D-6); Benson (D-14)
Creates Office of Sustainability.
Related Bill: S-2660
     Mar 19, 2015 – Posted: Assembly Environment
and Solid Waste
 A-4185  Eustace, T. (D-38); Spencer, L.G. (D-29)
Requires municipal land use plan element of master plan
to address smart growth and storm resiliency, and environmental sustainability
issues.
Related Bill: S-2424
      
A-4197  Andrzejczak, B. (D-1); Spencer, L.G. (D-29)
Implements constitutional dedication of CBT revenues
for preservation of farmland, historic properties, and open space, including
lands that protect water supplies and flood prone areas.
     
A-4206  Spencer, L.G. (D-29); Pintor Marin, E.
(D-29); Dancer, R.S. (R-12)
Implements 2014 constitutional dedication of CBT
revenues for open space, farmland and historic preservation purposes.
      
A-4258  Eustace, T. (D-38)
Clarifies liability for discharges of hazardous
substances from drilling platforms that enter NJ waters.
Related Bill: S-2172
     Mar 19, 2015 – Posted: Assembly Environment
and Solid Waste
 A-4261  Eustace, T. (D-38); Spencer, L.G. (D-29)
Requires State to include distributed energy resource
in certain new State buildings and consider retrofitting certain existing State
buildings with distributed energy resource.
Related Bill: S-2340
      
S-2166  Lesniak, R.J. (D-20)
“Comprehensive Regulated Grease Recycling
Act.” 
    
__________________________________________________________________________

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Pinelands supporters outraged by vote to replace Commission member who voted against pipeline


Green-shirt-clad Pinelands supporters, who filled the Senate gallery yesterday afternoon were crestfallen when, after failing to attract enough votes on a first attempt, a motion to add a likely supporter of a gas pipeline to the Pipelines Commission was approved by one vote margin.

Senate President Steve Sweeney, who sided with Gov. Chris Christie in advancing the nomination of Robert Barr, and who earlier warned the crowd against vocal reactions, then ordered the gallery cleared.

The tally on Pinelands Commission nominee before two  crucial votes were added 

Senator_Raymond_Lesniak
Four senators–Bob Smith (D), Nia Gill (D), Kip Bateman (R) and   Jennifer Beck (R) urged their colleagues to vote no on the nomination.  No senator testified in support of Barr’s nomination.

Click here to hear their testimony

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NY high-net-worth investors put wind, solar energy at top

New York area high-net-worth investors have clear preferences for alternative energy development, Kevin Peters writes in the Lewisboro Ledger.
“A Morgan Stanley nationwide poll of high net worth investors shows support for the expansion of wind farms (86% said they liked the idea) and solar energy “parks” (85%).
“Considerably fewer (67%) support development of the Keystone oil pipeline system between the U.S. and Canada. And when it comes to fracking, the controversial method of squeezing energy from the earth by pumping in water mixed with chemicals, only 48% in the tri-state approved.
“Investors in the tri-state area continue to be optimistic about the direction of both the state and national economies: 81% surveyed said they are optimistic about the national economy and 80% feel strongly about the tri-state economy in 2015. A year ago 83% felt strongly about the New York metro economy.
“A solid 75% say the global economy will be the same or improve this year, while 72% hold the same views for the state economy.”
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Enviro attorney Todd W. Terhune joins Scarinci Hollenbeck

Todd W. Terhune
Environmental Attorney Todd W. Terhune has joined the law firm of Scarinci Hollenbeck  as a partner in its Environmental and Land Use Group. He will also serve as Co-Chair of the firm’s Brownfields and Infrastructure Subgroup.

Terhune brings more than two decades of experience in the environmental field, practicing first as a licensed Professional Engineer and, for the past 15 years, as an environmental attorney. His practical, business-oriented approach to environmental problems makes him a welcome addition to the Scarinci Hollenbeck team. 

Formerly with Wolff and Samson, Terhune has worked on a wide range of environmental issues arising out of real estate and business transactions, as well as in regulatory compliance and enforcement matters. He routinely appears before the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the United States Environmental Protection Agency, although he has worked with environmental matters on almost every continent.
Terhune’s notable projects include the purchase and remediation of a 400-acre former munitions facility in Cranbury and a 130-acre chemical facility in Burlington Township. He also assisted with the sale of 80 fast food franchise stores across the region, many of which were previously occupied by gas stations or dry cleaners.
Working as an environmental engineering consultant and a licensed Professional Engineer, Terhune handled environmental due diligence, environmental permitting, soil and groundwater contamination assessment, and landfill gas assessment and control. Terhune notes that his technical background is an invaluable skill when navigating technically driven legal issues and negotiating with environmental consultants, LSRP’s, regulators and adversaries.
Todd obtained his Bachelor of Science from Widener University, where he returned almost a decade later to pursue law. 
Other attorneys adding their expertise to the firm’s Environmental and Land Use Group are:  Sandra T. Ayers, William A. Baker, Kenneth J. Hollenbeck, Kara A. Kaczynski, Victor A. Kinon, Robert A. Marsico, Patrick J. McNamara, Donald M. Pepe, Ramon E. Rivera, John M. Scagnelli (section chief), Theodore A. Schwartz, Sheri K. Siegelbaum, William C. Sullivan, Jr. and Peter R. Yarem.   

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New environment, energy and ag bills in the NJ Senate

Five bills and four resolutions addressing environment, energy and agriculture issues were introduced on Thursday, March 12, in the New Jersey Senate.


To see a full copy of any of the bills listed below, click on the bill number. 

S-2807  O’Toole, K.J. (R-40)
Establishes committee to develop consolidation plan for
Newark Watershed Conservation and Development Corporation, North Jersey
District Water Supply Commission, and Passaic Valley Water Commission.
     Mar 12, 2015 – Introduced in Senate
     Mar 12, 2015 – Referred: Senate Environment
and Energy


S-2819  Van Drew, J. (D-1)
Directs Department of Agriculture to publish on its
website “New Jersey Gleaning Week” and “Farmers Against Hunger
Day” page.
Related Bill: A-4079
     Mar 12, 2015 – Introduced in Senate
     Mar 12, 2015 – Referred: Senate Economic
Growth

S-2820  Van Drew, J. (D-1)
Requires drivers to slow down before passing slow
moving vehicles; establishes Statewide educational campaign on rural roadway
safety; updates agriculture-related motor vehicle laws to reflect current
industry practices.
Related Bill: A-3927
     Mar 12, 2015 – Introduced in Senate
     Mar 12, 2015 – Referred: Senate
Transportation
S-2821  Van Drew, J. (D-1)
Creates striped bass license plates.
Related Bill: A-2786
     Mar 12, 2015 – Introduced in Senate
     Mar 12, 2015 – Referred: Senate
Transportation
S-2825  Sweeney, S.M. (D-3)
Increases efficiency and transparency in distribution
of Superstorm Sandy aid money.
     Mar 12, 2015 – Introduced in Senate
     Mar 12, 2015 – Referred: Senate Community
and Urban Affairs
SCR-159  Whelan, J. (D-2)
Urges President and Congress to reinstate and extend
production tax credit for wind energy.
Related Bill: ACR-143
     Mar 12, 2015 – Introduced in Senate
     Mar 12, 2015 – Referred: Senate Environment
and Energy
SJR-73  Van Drew, J. (D-1)
Designates third week of September as “New Jersey
Gleaning Week.”
Related Bill: AJR-93
     Mar 12, 2015 – Introduced in Senate
     Mar 12, 2015 – Referred: Senate Economic
Growth
SJR-74  Van Drew, J. (D-1)
Designates Wednesday of third week of September as
“Farmers Against Hunger Day.”
Related Bill: AJR-94
     Mar 12, 2015 – Introduced in Senate
     Mar 12, 2015 – Referred: Senate Economic
Growth
SR-117  Holzapfel, J.W. (R-10)
Opposes President’s Plan to allow oil and natural gas
drilling in Atlantic Ocean.
Related Bill: AR-221
     Mar 12, 2015 – Introduced in Senate
     Mar 12, 2015 – Referred: Senate Environment
and Energy


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