EnviroPolitics Blog

NJ lawmakers take alternative-fuel vehicles for a test run

If you’re a green-minded businessperson thinking about leasing or purchasing alternative-fuel cars or trucks for your salespeople, technicians or other employees, where will you make that investment?

In all-electric vehicles?
In vehicles running on compressed natural gas from the Marcellus Shale play?
Or (if you’re really cutting edge) in vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells?

The easy choice would be none of the above. If you go with a hybrid that runs on standard gasoline as well as electricity a big part of your re-fueling problems are solved.

But if you’re a bit more adventurous and want to make a clean break from conventional fossil fuels then you face a number of big questions about where you will be able to refuel your vehicles in New Jersey and whether the state is likely to offer tax credits or other inducements that favor one technology over another.

The fact is that New Jersey, generally a front-runner in environmental change, is lagging when when it comes to developing policy that encourages government or public use of alternative fuel vehicles.

But change is inevitable and the issue will get the attention of lawmakers and the media tomorrow when the state Senate’s Environment and Energy Committee meets to consider more than a dozen bills addressing alternative-fuel vehicles.

You can listen to the discussion, starting at 10 a.m. tomorrow here.

Here’s the legislative lineup:

A-3028 Greenwald, L.D. (D-6); Benson, D.R. (D-14); Spencer, L.G. (D-29)
Establishes Zero Emission Vehicle Commission and abolishes Low Emission Vehicle Review Commission; transfers certain responsibilities to Zero Emission Vehicle Commission.
Jun 25, 2012 – Passed by the Assembly (57-21)
Jun 28, 2012 – Referred: Senate Environment and Energy
Sep 20, 2012 – Posted: Senate Environment and Energy

A-566 Wagner, C. (D-38); Coughlin, C.J. (D-19); Fuentes, A. (D-5)
Provides corporation business tax credit and gross income tax credits for purchase and installation of certain electric vehicle charging stations.
Mar 15, 2012 – Passed by the Assembly (54-20)
May 3, 2012 – Referred: Senate Environment and Energy
Sep 20, 2012 – Posted for discussion only: Senate Environment and Energy

A-1151 Lampitt, P.R. (D-6); Vainieri Huttle, V. (D-37); Chivukula, U.J. (D-17)
Authorizes State and local governments to enter into group purchasing agreement for advanced technology vehicles and alternative fueled vehicles. Related Bill: S-371
Mar 15, 2012 – Passed by the Assembly (78-0)
May 3, 2012 – Referred: Senate Environment and Energy
Sep 20, 2012 – Posted for discussion only: Senate Environment and Energy

S-340 Greenstein, L.R. (D-14); Beach, J. (D-6)
Provides corporation business tax credit and allows gross income tax deduction for purchase of electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Related Bill: A-1583
Jan 10, 2012 – Introduced in Senate
Jan 10, 2012 – Referred: Senate Environment and Energy
Sep 20, 2012 – Posted for discussion only: Senate Environment and Energy

S-345 Greenstein, L.R. (D-14)
Provides corporation business tax credits and gross income tax credits for purchase of compressed natural gas vehicles. Related Bill: A-1997
Jan 10, 2012 – Introduced in Senate
Jan 10, 2012 – Referred: Senate Environment and Energy
Sep 20, 2012 – Posted for discussion only: Senate Environment and Energy

S-346 Greenstein, L.R. (D-14)
Provides corporation business tax credits and gross income tax credits for purchase of fuel cell vehicles. Related Bill: A-1995
Jan 10, 2012 – Introduced in Senate
Jan 10, 2012 – Referred: Senate Environment and Energy
Sep 20, 2012 – Posted for discussion only: Senate Environment and Energy

S-371 Beach, J. (D-6)
Authorizes State and local governments to enter into group purchasing agreement for alternative fueled vehicles. Related Bill: A-1151
Jan 10, 2012 – Introduced in Senate
Jan 10, 2012 – Referred: Senate Environment and Energy
Sep 20, 2012 – Posted for discussion only: Senate Environment and Energy

S-400 Allen, D.B. (R-7)
Requires BPU to conduct pilot program to allow free parking for alternative fuel vehicles and alternative technology vehicles.
Jan 10, 2012 – Introduced in Senate
Jan 10, 2012 – Referred: Senate Environment and Energy
Sep 20, 2012 – Posted for discussion only: Senate Environment and Energy

S-595 Beck, J. (R-11); Gordon, R.M. (D-38)
Exempts from sales tax for two years certain highly fuel efficient vehicles and energy efficient appliances.
Jan 10, 2012 – Introduced in Senate
Jan 10, 2012 – Referred: Senate Environment and Energy
Mar 21, 2012 – Posted: Sales and Use Tax Review Commission
Sep 20, 2012 – Posted for discussion only: Senate Environment and Energy

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S-980 Greenstein, L.R. (D-14)
Encourages development of electric vehicle charging stations in transportation projects.
Jan 17, 2012 – Introduced in Senate
Jan 17, 2012 – Referred: Senate Environment and Energy
Sep 20, 2012 – Posted for discussion only: Senate Environment and Energy

S-983 Greenstein, L.R. (D-14)
Establishes public-private pilot program for level 3 electric vehicle charging stations.
Related Bill: A-1996
Jan 17, 2012 – Introduced in Senate
Jan 17, 2012 – Referred: Senate Environment and Energy
Sep 20, 2012 – Posted for discussion only: Senate Environment and Energy

S-984 Greenstein, L.R. (D-14)
Establishes public-private alternative fueling station pilot program and requires DOT to conduct study. Related Bill: A-1994
Jan 17, 2012 – Introduced in Senate
Jan 17, 2012 – Referred: Senate Environment and Energy
Sep 20, 2012 – Posted for discussion only: Senate Environment and Energy

S-1004 Greenstein, L.R. (D-14)
Directs installation of electric vehicle charging stations at service areas on State’s toll roads.
Related Bill: A-822
Jan 17, 2012 – Introduced in Senate
Jan 17, 2012 – Referred: Senate Environment and Energy
Sep 20, 2012 – Posted for discussion only: Senate Environment and Energy

S-1186 Allen, D.B. (R-7)
Exempts certain materials and labor used to convert traditional motor vehicles into plug-in hybrid electric motor vehicles from sales and use tax. Related Bill: A-2721
Jan 23, 2012 – Introduced in Senate
Jan 23, 2012 – Referred: Senate Environment and Energy
Apr 25, 2012 – Reviewed by the Sales and Use Tax Commission: Recommend to not enact
Sep 20, 2012 – Posted for discussion only: Senate Environment and Energy

Have a position on which alternative-fuel horse the state should be backing, and how? Tell us about it in the opinion box below. If one is not visible, activate it by clicking on the tiny ‘comments’ line.

Related:
Senate Committee takes up more than a dozen bills for alternative-fuel vehicles

Our most recent posts:
RGGI sees fewer bidders but still raising tens of millions
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NJ lawmakers take alternative-fuel vehicles for a test run Read More »

RGGI sees fewer bidders but still raising tens of millions

RGGI, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative that Gov. Chris Christie pulled New Jersey out of last year, drew the lowest number of bidders in the program’s history last week during it’s 17th auction.

[See: RGGI’s Sweet 17th: Cumulative Proceeds Top A Billion Dollars by attorney Amy Boyd]

Those who support the governor’s decision (mostly fellow Republicans, businesses with large electricity bills, and Tea Party members who want less government involvement in almost everything) will point to this as evidence that the nine-member compact is running out of (pardon the pun) gas.

RGGI supporters (mostly Democrats and environmentalists) will point to the fact that, despite lower participation, the auction still raised a not-too-shabby $47.4 million that will be used by participating states (including New York and Delaware) for energy efficiency and renewable energy programs.

Who’s right? Let us know what you think in the opinion box below. If one is not visible, activate it by clicking on the tiny ‘comments’ link.

Oil Money-Backed Advocacy Group Opposes Greenhouse Gas Initiative
Letter: RGGI Will Drive Businesses Out of the Garden State
NJ energy & environment bills up for votes today-2/27/12

The right and left debate RGGI in New Jersey |

Our most recent posts:
Gov. Cuomo: No pressure to speed NY fracking decision
Some big corporations cut emissions as Congress fiddles
DEP chief answers critics of NJ’s Barnegat Bay strategy
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***********************************************************************************************************
For thorough coverage of environmental news, issues, legislation and regulation in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, try a FREE subscription to EnviroPolitics, our daily newsletter that also tracks environment/energy bills–from introduction to enactment
***********************************************************************************************************

RGGI sees fewer bidders but still raising tens of millions Read More »

Gov. Cuomo: No pressure to speed NY fracking decision

NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo – AP Photo

On August 20, CBS declared that New York would approve fracking and issues guidelines after Labor Day.

Apparently, the network jumped the gun.

Labor Day has come and gone and Governor Andrew Cuomo said yesterday during an interview with an Albany radio station that he is not pressing the state Department of Environmental Conservation to speed up a decision on whether to approve the controversial natural gas drilling technique.

Cuomo also said he is not pushing for a decision by a certain date, such as Election Day in November or by the end of the year.

” When its done, and when they’re prepared–that’s when we’ll announce the decision,” he told WGDJ.

“And, remember,” he continued, “the announcing of the decision is not going to be the conclusion.

“I promise you, there will be lawsuits, whatever the decision is. So the day right after the decision, there will be another press conference that says, now we’re going to step two, which is a series of legal challenges and political challenges, and we’re going to try to get federal legislation and state legislation.

“It’s going to be an ongoing situation for a long, long time,” Cuomo said.

Related story:
No rush on fracking decision, Cuomo says

Recent posts:
Some big corporations cut emissions as Congress fiddles
DEP chief answers critics of NJ’s Barnegat Bay strategy
Saving NJ baby turtles from an unpleasant awakening
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Are Barnegat Bay fixes ignoring an overriding problem?

***********************************************************************************************************
For thorough coverage of environmental news, issues, legislation and regulation in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, try a FREE subscription to EnviroPolitics, our daily newsletter that also tracks environment/energy bills–from introduction to enactment
***********************************************************************************************************

Gov. Cuomo: No pressure to speed NY fracking decision Read More »

Some big corporations cut emissions as Congress fiddles

With climate policy paralyzed in Washington, a number of leading U.S.
corporations are going it alone, squeezing big reductions of
climate-changing emissions from their operations and supply chains, reports InsideClimate News.

And that’s not all.

“With stakeholder criticism and other pressures building, more and more
are also releasing rigorous climate data in their financial reports and
enlisting third-party firms to make sure it is accurate, clean economy reporter Maria Gallucci writes.

Why would a corporation implement pro-environment measures when it knows Congress will protect those who don’t?

“We do it because it makes good business sense—whether it’s top of
the fold [politically] or not,” said Wayne Balta, vice president of
corporate environmental affairs and product safety at IBM.
The world’s biggest computer services provider is on track to slash
its electricity use by 20 percent by the end of this year from 2008
levels. It will also cut its energy-related greenhouse gas emissions by
16 percent from 2005 levels—four percent above its original goal.
Earlier this year, the firm won one of the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency’s first-ever Climate Leadership Awards.

Balta said that key to those reductions were efficiency upgrades in
more than 360 buildings and data centers, which were achieved with the
help of 40 full-time energy management professionals. He would not say
how much the climate initiatives cost.

See who else is cutting pollution–and the role that climate change is playing on corporate thinking at: Major Corporations Quietly Reducing Emissions—and Saving Money

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Are Barnegat Bay fixes ignoring an overriding problem?
PADEP: You take our numbers, you take your chances
Breaking News: Federal court strikes EPA smog rule

Some big corporations cut emissions as Congress fiddles Read More »

DEP chief answers critics of NJ’s Barnegat Bay strategy

Frank Jacobs III photo -The (Trenton) Times

The Administration of Gov.Chris Christie is taking a science-based approach to restoring Barnegat Bay–a strategy that will produce benefits lasting well beyond the governor’s term
in office, writes NJDEP Commissioner Bob Martin in an op-ed in today’s Trenton Times.

“The governor laid out a clear course of action to reverse decades of ecological decline — a decline that began long before he was elected but that he is committed to ameliorating.We have taken the governor’s directive very seriously at the DEP,” Martin writes.

“Teams of DEP scientists and staff, in collaboration with universities and colleges, educators, scientists and Barnegat Bay area students and residents, local and county officials, legislators, environmentalists and business interests, are working hard on all facets of the governor’s 10-point Comprehensive Barnegat Bay Restoration Plan.

Martin details actions already taken–and in progress–in his response to environmental critics who are pressing for more immediate steps, including the imposition of maximum pollutant runoff standards and perhaps even a building moratorium in the bay’s watershed.

Finding such criticisms “a bit hysterical,” Martin argues: “Taking the next steps aimlessly, minus key science, will not benefit the bay.”

Check out the commissioner’s Apologia Pro Barnegat Sua and then let us know what you think in the comment box below. If one is not visible, activate it by clicking on the tiny ‘comments’ link.

Related Barnegat Bay posts:
NJ preserving 544 acres in Barnegat Bay watershed
Are Barnegat Bay fixes ignoring an overriding problem?
NJ’s largest paper wants more action on Barnegat Bay
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Other recent posts:
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DEP chief answers critics of NJ’s Barnegat Bay strategy Read More »

Saving NJ baby turtles from an unpleasant awakening

This from the Facebook page of The Wetlands Institute:

In two recent trips to East Point Lighthouse (at the mouth of the Maurice River, where it empties into Delaware Bay), staff and volunteers from the Wetlands Institute and US Army Corps Engineers rescued 324 terrapin hatchlings from a beach front road stabilization project site. With construction set to begin in mid-September, we rescued hatchlings from what would have been an unpleasant awakening. Diamondback terrapin hatchlings remain in underground nest chambers until they emerge in the fall or spring. We carefully used rakes, shovels, hoes, and our hands to excavate the 300-foot section of Delaware Bay beach and delicately remove the fragile hatchlings from their nest chambers. All hatchlings were released in a nearby salt marsh.

— EastPoint Light hatchling rescue (8 photos)

A few of our recent posts:
NJ preserving 544 acres in Barnegat Bay watershed
Are Barnegat Bay fixes ignoring an overriding problem?
PADEP: You take our numbers, you take your chances
Breaking News: Federal court strikes EPA smog rule
CBS says NY will approve fracking after Labor Day

***********************************************************************************************************
For thorough coverage of environmental news, issues, legislation and regulation in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, try a FREE subscription to EnviroPolitics, our daily newsletter that also tracks environment/energy bills–from introduction to enactment
***********************************************************************************************************

Saving NJ baby turtles from an unpleasant awakening Read More »