Brits rebel against the plastic bag

Spurred by a filmmaker’s documentary, the English town of Modbury has become the first in Europe to ban them outright. Others may follow as stores, grass-roots groups, and citizens are joining forces to reduce national consumption of the ubiquitous convenience item.
British retailer Sainsbury introduced a limited-edition reusable cotton bag (left) designed by Anya Hindmarch. Priced at $10, all 20,000 sold out within an hour.
The Christian Science Monitor reports it all here.

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Dozens of environmental bills posted today in NJ lawmakers’ summer swan song

Jersey’s beaches beckon and the State Legislature is heeding the call.

In what is expected to be the final sessions for both the State Senate and General Assembly prior to a traditional summer recess, legislators are scheduled to vote today in Trenton on a state budget and hundreds of additional pieces of legislation–including more than 40 environmental bills.

Among numerous environmental bills up for final legislative approval are:

A-383 / S-344 Requires the BPU to establish voluntary program for certification of renewable energy installers.

A-2039 /S-843 Requires certain State buildings to be designed and managed to meet high performance green building standards.

A-3301 / S-2114 The “Global Warming Response Act,” which requires that the level of greenhouse gas emissions in the State be reduced to the 1990 level by January 1, 2020.

A-4344 /S-2762 Makes changes to the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust Financing Program.

A-4346 /S-2763 Authorizes New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects.

A-4402 The “Green Acres, Farmland, Blue Acres, and Historic Preservation Bond Act of 2007”; authorizes issuance of $200 million in bonds

A-3983 /S-2631 Requires State to replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs; requires the BPU to educate public on benefits of compact fluorescent light bulbs.

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NJ & PA plot greenhouse gas reductions

An Assembly committee in New Jersey last week approved A-3301, a bill that would require the state to cut heat-trapping emissions from burning coal, oil and gas by 20 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by mid-century. Those are the same goals Gov. Jon Corzine set in an executive order he signed in February.
The business community sent a mixed message at the hearing. The New Jersey Business and Industry voiced opposition to the bill, while the state’s largest energy utility, Public Service Electric and Gas, supported it (after a key amendment was added to ensure customers wouldn’t simply buy power from out-of-state utilities).
In Pennsylvania, Governor Rendell hasn’t yet unveiled his energy strategy but a leading environmental group last week released a “Climate Change Roadmap” containing 40 recommendations it says will help the state combat global warming. The Pennsylvania Environmental Council said that, if its recommendations are incorporated into legislation, the Commonwealth might realize a 25 percent reduction in greenhouse-gas emissions, by 2025, from 2000.

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Recent Superfund ruling explained

Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously held that private parties may recover clean up costs, even if voluntarily incurred, from other parties who are potentially responsible for polluting a site.

The decision could have significant repercussions in Superfund-rich states like New Jersey where previous decisions have limited the ability of corporations and other private parties who voluntarily pay–sometimes into the millions–for site cleanups to seek reimbursement from others whose actions contributed to the the site’s contamination.

One of New Jersey’s preeminent Superfund attorneys, William H. Hyatt, Jr. analyzes the court’s unanimous, June 11 decision in a K&L/Gates Environmental, Land Use and Natural Resources Alert published with colleagues Emily L. Won and Karyllan Dodson Mack

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Action on enviro bills hot and heavy in Trenton

The New Jersey Legislature is racing to move as many bills as possible before breaking for its traditional summer recess at the end of June. With only a handfull of committee dates and floor sessions left, the pace is accelerating.

We counted more than 50 separate actions involving environmental bills yesterday. Here are just a few of them:

A-1839 (Greenstein) Provides for civil and criminal penalties for giving false information pertaining to violations of environmental laws.
Jun 14, 2007 – Posted for committee action but held

A-2039 (Chatzidakis) Requires certain State buildings to be designed and managed to meet high performance green building standards.
Jun 14, 2007 – Transferred to committee: Assembly Budget

A-3275 (Panter) Changes composition and revises authority of Fish and Game Council.
Jun 14, 2007 – Reported with Assembly committee amendments

A-3301 (Stender) The “Global Warming Response Act.”
Jun 14, 2007 – Reported as a Assembly committee substitute

A-3595 (McKeon) Authorizes enhancement of State Uniform Construction Code’s energy subcode based on anticipated energy savings
Jun 14, 2007 – Reported by committee

A-3864 (Greenstein) Authorizes municipalities to establish receiving zones for transfer of development rights from Highlands Region or pinelands area; provides for impact fees and other incentives.
Jun 14, 2007 – Reported as a Assembly committee substitute

A-3937 (Fisher) Increases certain fees and penalties of the Mine Safety Act.
Jun 14, 2007 – Reported by committee

A-4022 (Greenwald) Establishes New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium.
Jun 14, 2007 – Reported with Assembly committee amendments

A-4086 (McKeon) Requires purchasing agents to complete a course in green product purchasing.
Jun 14, 2007 – Referred: Senate Economic Growth

A-4156 (Watson Coleman) Establishes minimum energy efficiency standards for certain products.
Jun 14, 2007 – Reported with Assembly committee amendments

A-4211 (Panter) Requires developers to offer solar energy systems in all homes built within a development of 100 or more units.
Jun 14, 2007 – Reported with Assembly committee amendments

A-4265 (Manzo) Provides combined State and local enforcement authority over recycling centers.
Jun 14, 2007 – Reported by committee

A-4329 (Quigley) Concerns certain riparian lands in Jersey City.
Jun 14, 2007 – Reported with Assembly committee amendments

S-2737 (Madden) Permits certain child care centers to receive $1,500 grants from Hazardous Discharge Site Remediation Fund.
Jun 14, 2007 – Reported by committee

S-2743 (Doria) Revises procedures for condemnation of certain property and use of the power of eminent domain by railroads.
Jun 14, 2007 – Reported with Senate committee amendments

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Alternative fuel user pays an unexpected price

Thinking about striking a blow for energy independence by modifying your car or truck to run on vegetable oil? Why not. There are millions of gallons of used veggie oil heading to landfills every day from the bazillions of fast-food fry pits across America. Why not divert some of it to a better fate? Why continue to shell out money to the sheiks when you can switch to the fuel that burns good, smells good and is made right here in the ole U.S. of A?

Charlotte, NC musician Bob Teixeira did. He paid $1200 to convert his 1981 diesel Mercedes. He skipped the fry pits and bought soybean in 5-gallon jugs at Costco, spending about 30 percent more than diesel would cost. And what did it get him?

Would you believe a $1,000 fine for not paying state motor fuel taxes? Bob’s been told to expect an additional $1,000 from the feds and, if he wants to get legal, North Carolina will oblige him but first he has to get a $2,500 bond.

A June 9 story in the Charlotte Observer details Bob’s experience and his decision to pay the fine, get his bond, and keep on burning veggie oil.

So what about you? Are you ready to dump the gas pump?

The greasecar website can tell you how much a conversion kit will cost for your vehicle. Not mechanically inclined? No problem. It lists five certified installers in New York and one in Philadelphia. Sorry, no listings so far for New Jersey.

Know of anyone who’s made the switch in the tri-state area? And what about our state laws? Will governors Corzine, Rendell and Spitzer expect their fair share in highway taxes? Are there bonds, permits, special fees or other financial hurdles to clear?

Kindly click on the comment link below and share what you know.

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