EnviroPolitics Blog

After historic upset, firebrand NJ Sen. Ed Durr faces tough reelection

By CLYDE HUGHES, NJ Spotlight

Truck driver Edward Durr made national headlines two years ago when he pulled off one of the biggest upsets in New Jersey politics ever — defeating Democratic incumbent and longtime Senate President Steve Sweeney in South Jersey’s 3rd Legislative District.

The victory over Sweeney, considered one of the most powerful figures in New Jersey politics, highlighted a Republican “red wave” that saw the GOP close gaps in the state Senate and Assembly while nearly capturing the governorship.

Fast forward two years: Durr is now fighting for his short political life, with Democrats and progressive political action committees targeting the man who funded his campaign last time around with credit cards.

Durr is facing former 10-term Democratic 3rd District Assemblyman John Burzichelli, whom Durr helped sweep out of office in 2021. Durr is also facing his own ultra-conservative record in a district that had been leaning moderately Democrat before Durr’s victory.

Watch our video interview with ‘Ed the trucker’ early after his astounding upset election

In the 3rd District Assembly race, the Republicans are running incumbent Bethanne McCarthy Patrick, an emergency medical technician in Salem County, and Thomas Tedesco Jr., a member of the Hopetown Township Committee.

The Democratic candidates include Heather Simmons, the deputy director of the Gloucester County Board of Commissioners, and Woodstown nonprofit CEO Dave Bailey Jr.

“This is a different election than it was two years ago,” said John Froonjian, executive director of the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University. “Nobody expected Ed Durr to have a shot and were shocked when he upset Sweeney and the Democrats then.

“Durr does not have the element of surprise this time. In fact, the Dems are fighting hard. Durr was an unknown then; this time, his controversial statements are well-known and not very popular,” Froonjian said.

One of Durr’s social media statements related to abortion has become a Democratic battle cry in the race. In a knock on the “pro-choice” theme for abortion supporters, Durr was quoted as saying that they already have a choice, “keep her legs closed.”

That comment was one of several that have brought out everyone from former Democratic Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, who narrated an ad against Durr, to his own 2021 running mate Beth Sawyer, who ran against him in the Republican primary this year.

Durr’s rhetoric has made some Republicans so nervous that they publicly distanced themselves from him. Earlier this fall, six Republican legislative candidates from South Jersey called Durr’s past social media posts about women “offensive and unacceptable.”

The GOP candidates included  state Senate candidates Latham Tiver and Christopher Del Borrello, Assemblymen Michael Torrissi Jr., and Brandon Umba,  and Assembly candidates Matt Walker and Amanda Esposito.

In defense, Durr has touted his support for the conservative so-called parental rights movement to give parents more of a say in the school curriculum.

“There is nothing remotely political about elected officials and parents telling Governor Murphy and his activist administration to get out of the classroom,” Durr said in September in voicing his support for a parental rights notification bill.

Read the full story here

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Hazardous Batteries cause Toyota to recall 1.8 million of its RAV4s

According to a press release issued on Wednesday, Nov. 1, some replacement 12-volt batteries of the size specified for 2013 to 2018 RAV4 models have smaller top dimensions than others.

“Toyota is currently preparing the remedy,” the statement reads. “When the remedy is available, Toyota dealers will replace the battery hold-down clamp, battery tray, and positive terminal cover with improved ones at no cost to owners. For all involved vehicles, Toyota will notify customers by late December 2023.”

To see if your vehicle is involved in a safety recall visit Toyota.com/recall or nhtsa.gov/recalls and enter your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) or license plate information.

For any additional questions, Toyota customer support is also available by calling the Toyota Brand Engagement Center (at 1-800-331-4331).

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Federal Lawmakers Investigate Insurers Fleeing Risky Climate Areas

Senate Democrats are demanding that insurers tell them which places could be next.

An aerial view of houses including debris in the front yard.

Damage to Cedar Key, Fla., after Hurricane Idalia in August.Credit…Paul Ratje for The NY Times

By Christopher Flavelle, New York Times, Nov. 1, 2023

Faced with growing losses from hurricanes, floods, and wildfires, major insurance companies are pulling out of California, Florida, and Louisiana — a shift that threatens to undermine the economies of those states.

Now Senate Democrats are demanding that insurers tell them which places could be next.

On Wednesday, the Senate Budget Committee sent letters to 40 insurance companies, seeking documents that show where in the country those insurers have begun dropping customers, or are considering it. The committee, which has subpoena power, has given the companies until Nov. 17 to respond.

“Climate-caused uninsurability has the potential to trigger cascading failures that undermine our entire economy,” Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Democrat of Rhode Island and the committee chairman said in a statement. “With this investigation, we are seeking information about where the dominoes may fall next.”

Banks typically require insurance when writing a mortgage. If insurance becomes unavailable in a particular community, it becomes hard for most potential buyers to purchase a home, leading to a drop in real estate values.

Mr. Whitehouse compared the accelerating withdrawal of insurance companies with the 2008 housing crash, saying a broad insurer pullback “will have similarly grave economic effects.”

He said the investigation aims to give the public “advance warning” if insurers might leave their communities.

Read the full story here

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ORSTED pulls plug on its New Jersey offshore wind energy plans

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said the company’s decision was “outrageous and calls into question the company’s credibility and competence.”

A completed monopile foundation at EEW AOS where the massive monopile foundations for the offshore wind turbines are manufactured in Paulsboro, Gloucester County. Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer

By Frank Kummer and Amy S. Rosenberg, Philadelphia Inquirer, Oct. 31, 2023

Global offshore wind developer Orsted said Tuesday night that it is pulling out of both of its projects scheduled to be built off the coast of New Jersey, a move that enraged Gov. Phil Murphy and could be a big blow to the state’s renewable energy ambitions.

The Danish company made the announcement after a decision by its board of directors. Both the Ocean Wind 1 and 2 projects, which would have had the capacity to produce 2.2 gigawatts of renewable energy, will be scrapped.

“Macroeconomic factors have changed dramatically over a short period of time, with high inflation, rising interest rates, and supply chain bottlenecks impacting our long-term capital investments,” said David Hardy, Group Executive Vice President and CEO Americas at Orsted. “As a result, we have no choice but to cease development of Ocean Wind 1 and Ocean Wind 2.”

Orsted said Tuesday night that it is pulling out of both of its projects scheduled to be built off the coast of New Jersey, a move that enraged Gov. Phil Murphy

Hardy said the company was disappointed and thanked Murphy and other state leaders who tried to kick-start the industry in the state, hoping to make it a hub for offshore wind in the Northeast.

Orsted is, however, proceeding with other wind projects in the U.S. and internationally.

“Today’s decision by Orsted to abandon its commitments to New Jersey is outrageous and calls into question the company’s credibility and competence,” Murphy said in a statement. “As recently as several weeks ago, the company made public statements regarding the viability and progress of the Ocean Wind 1 project.”

Murphy said his administration is looking “to review all legal rights and remedies and to take all necessary steps to ensure that Orsted fully and immediately honors its obligations.”

Read the full story here

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BILLYPENNGRAM for Oct. 31 2023

#BILLYPENNGRAM OF THE DAY
Tricks and treats in Fitler Square, Philadelphia
(Photo by @leslie.sllvn)

Want to see your photo here? Tag #billypenngram on Instagram

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Companies in NJ and NY hit with underground storage tank fines

From the Environmental Protection Agency

NEW YORK (October 30, 2023) – In four separate enforcement agreements the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has taken action against several corporate entities operating in New Jersey, New York, and the U.S. Virgin Islands to address alleged violations of federal laws regarding the maintenance and operation of underground petroleum storage tank systems. In separate settlements, the companies have agreed to comply and pay penalties.

“EPA’s requirements are designed to ensure proper maintenance of underground storage tanks. When these tanks are not properly maintained, they can leak and put people and the environment at risk,” said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “EPA takes these requirements very seriously and owners will face penalties if they do not comply.”

When not properly operated and maintained, underground storage tanks (USTs) can leak petroleum and other hazardous substances, threatening soil and water quality. These regulations prevent and detect fuel releases that could contaminate groundwater and pose risks to people’s health and the environment.

In New Jersey, ADPP Enterprises, Inc., and APM Management, Inc., operators of 13 gas stations in New Jersey, settled a case with the EPA for violating federal rules on USTs storing gasoline or diesel fuel. The EPA discovered that the gas stations failed to comply with spill prevention, leak detection, inspection, and record-keeping requirements for USTs between 2018 and 2020. The gas station owners have agreed to pay a $175,000 penalty and certify their compliance with the UST rules at their facilities.

Wawa, Inc., a New Jersey-based company that operates gas stations and convenience stores, has settled with the EPA for violating federal regulations on USTs containing gasoline or diesel fuel. Following inspections at nine Wawa facilities in February and March of 2022, the EPA determined the company had failed to meet operator training, record keeping, and leak detection requirements for USTs. Wawa has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $26,500 and certify its compliance with UST regulations at its facilities.

In New York, EPA found Dutchess Terminals, Inc., ANK Realty Inc., and Fair Oak, Inc., three companies that own and operate underground storage tanks storing gasoline or diesel fuel at 11 facilities across New York State, in violation of federal rules on financial responsibility, leak detection, spill prevention, and UST inspection requirements between November 2017 and April 2019. The companies have agreed to pay a $150,000 penalty and certify their compliance with the UST rules at their facilities.

AT&T Transoceanic Comm. LLC, which owns and operates underground tanks storing fuel for emergency power generators at 28 facilities in New York, New Jersey, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, violated federal rules on spill prevention, inspections, and operator training at three of its facilities in the U.S. Virgin Islands, which EPA inspected in 2022. The company has agreed to pay a $40,000 penalty and conduct a comprehensive audit of its compliance with all UST rules at its New York and New Jersey facilities.

Approximately 542,000 underground storage tanks nationwide store petroleum or hazardous substances. The greatest potential threat from a leaking UST is contamination of groundwater, the source of drinking water for nearly half of all Americans. EPA, states, territories, and tribes work in partnership with industry to protect the environment and human health from potential releases.

For more information on underground storage tanks, visit http://www.epa.gov/region02/ust/.

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