Jersey won’t be sweating upcoming EPA carbon rule

NJ’s power industry cut carbon emissions 27 percent between 2005-2012

 

"President Obama is expected to unveil an unprecedented plan on Monday to cut greenhouse gas emissions from the nation’s coal- and gas-burning power plants —
many of whose provisions are already in effect in New Jersey, "James M. O’Neill
reports in The Record.

The state, which already has one of the nation’s cleanest fleets of power-generating plants, is not expected to face a major challenge meeting whatever emissions cuts are in it, environmental and business representatives predicted.

“We’ve felt comfortable all along with this, because New Jersey is one of the cleanest power sectors in the country,” said Bob Marshall, the state Department of Environmental Protection’s assistant commissioner for sustainability and green energy. “We’re already way ahead of most other states.”

Sara Bluhm, the vice president for energy and environment of the New Jersey Business and Industry Association, agreed. “Our electric-generation sector is in good shape to deal with any new emissions rules involving coal,” she said.

At the same time, as a coastal state that is already feeling the impact of climate change — from sea-level rise to more-intense storms — New Jersey would benefit from efforts to reduce the greenhouse gases responsible for climate change.

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Mercury site defendants liable for $6.13M cleanup in NJ


                               Kiddie Kollege site following demolition – SJ Times photo

The Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey informs its members today that:

Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman announced a significant legal victory for the State’s environmental protection efforts earlier this week.

A Superior Court Judge found multiple defendants liable for a total of $6.13 million to cover the cost of cleaning up mercury contamination at the site of Kiddie Kollege, a former day care center in Franklin Township, Gloucester County.

Superior Court Judge Anne McDonnell found that, despite their denials of legal responsibility, current property owner Jim Sullivan Inc., former owner the Navillus Group, and other “Sullivan Defendants” are liable for costs related to the clean-up and removal of mercury discharged by a thermometer-making factory located on the property before Sullivan bought it and leased it for use as a day care site.

Also legally responsible for clean-up costs are previous property owner Philip J. Giuliano and the now-defunct thermometer manufacturing company he owned, Accutherm, Inc.

According to the Court’s ruling, all defendants share a total liability of $2.04 million for the Kiddie Kollege property remediation, but Giuliano and Accutherm are liable for an additional $4.09 million because they failed to comply with a Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) directive that they clean up the original contamination caused by their unlawful discharge of mercury at the site.

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Third-party energy suppliers face more scrutiny in NJ

                                             Stefanie Brand, Director, NJ Division of Rate Counsel 

The New Jersey Division of Rate Counsel wants to ramp up efforts to prevent alternative energy suppliers from misleading customers when they switch from their incumbent electric utilities, Tom Johnson reports today in NJ Spotlight.

In a filing with the state Board of Public Utilities, the agency, which represents the interests of utility customers, is seeking more protections for ratepayers who decide to buy their electricity from companies other than state utilities.
RELATED LINKS

Division of Rate Counsel Filing

The filing occurs at a time when the state already is launching an investigation into whether those suppliers are engaging in false marketing and contracting.
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The issue became a focus of regulators this past winter when electricity prices for customers who switched to so-called third party suppliers skyrocketed when severe weather spiked prices for natural gas. As a result, customers had to absorb big increases in their electric bills that were totally unanticipated.

Read the full story here


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Drexel students seek funding for solar-powered chargers

                                  Spor is a solar-powered battery charger
A trio of Drexel students are raising $100,000 to jumpstart their solar-powered battery charger business, Technical.ly Philly reports.
"The Spor charger, the founders say, can soak up power from both sunlight and indoor light, as well as connect with other Spor chargers to speed up the charging capacity or transfer energy between them. It also features a 3D-printed case. Their big vision is to make energy “more accessible and affordable for the global population.”
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"A $40 Kickstarter donation will get you an early bird order of the charger (the “early early bird” $35 deal has already run out). The team plans to price
it at $50."

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Toll Brothers homebuilding profits come roaring back

Toll Brothers CEO Douglas C. Yearley, Jr. – Jeff Fusco photo

Toll Brothers, the largest luxury home builder in the United States, has more
than doubled its quarterly profit. Jared Shelly reports in the Philadelphia Business Journal that: 

“Revenues of $860.4 million and homebuilding deliveries of 1,218 units rose 67% in dollars and 36% in units, compared to FY 2013’s second quarter totals of $516.0 million and 894 units. The average price of homes delivered was $706,000, compared to $577,000 in FY 2013’s second quarter.”

Toll Brothers has its suburban Philadelphia headquarters in Horsham, Pa. Read the full story here 


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State Bar comments on NY Brownfield program reform

David J. Freeman

David J. Freeman, a Director in the Gibbons law firm’s Real Property & Environmental Law Department, published the article below in his firm’s Environmental and Green Issues blog
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The Environmental Law Section of the New York State Bar Association has released its Report and Recommendations regarding the proposed extension and reform of the New York State Brownfield Cleanup Program (“BCP” or “Program”).
The Report and Recommendations were prepared by the Section’s Brownfield Task Force, co-chaired by David J. Freeman and Lawrence P. Schnapf. The Task Force spent several months reviewing the proposals for reforming the Program made in Governor Andrew Cuomo’s budget bill and draft bill circulated by the staffs of the Senate and Assembly Environmental Conservation Committees.
The Task Force made detailed recommendations on many of the issues addressed by these proposals. Among the recommendations are the following:
  • that the Legislature accept Governor’s and Assembly’s proposed new definition
    of a “brownfield site” as a site “where a contaminant is present at levels exceeding soil cleanup objectives or other health-based environmental standards.” This definition would replace the current definition, modeled on federal law, which defines brownfields as sites “which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence” of a contaminant;
  • that the dates for obtaining Certificates of Completion (“COCs”) necessary for eligibility for the Program’s tax credit be extended through December 31, 2025
    (or, alternatively, for 10 years from the site’s acceptance into the Program);
  • that there be a separate set of criteria for sites to qualify for tangible property tax (i.e., development) credits, but that the Governor’s and Assembly’s proposed criteria be modified so that more sites can qualify for such credits;
  • that the Legislature authorize a streamlined program for sites not needing tax credits but seeking to have cleanup performed under the supervision of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (“NYSDEC”) and to obtain
    a COC, and a release and covenant not to sue, at the conclusion of successful cleanups;
  • that there be no change in the definition of costs eligible for tax credits under the Program;
  • that the BCP be opened to Class 2 State Superfund and other enforcement sites, as long as those sites are being remediated by volunteers (i.e., persons not responsible for the original contamination);
  • that the sites cleaned up under approved local government programs be exempted from hazardous waste program fees and taxes;
  • that liability releases granted under such local programs have the same force and effect as those granted by NYSDEC.
The Governor and leaders of the Senate and Assembly have stated that reform of the BCP is one of their top priorities this year. If so, they will have to reach consensus on these issues quickly in light of the expected adjournment of the Legislature in mid-June.
                                                         
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