EnviroPolitics Blog

Wire theft ring, posing as rescuers, steal utility lines in Bucks County

By Dino Ciliberti, Patch Staff

BUCKS COUNTY, PA —Nine people have been charged with stealing Verizon wires from utility poles throughout Bucks County and selling them as scrap, costing the utility company more than $250,000 to replace, authorities said.

Between May and October, the organization, who referred to themselves as the “Get Money Squad,” committed wire thefts in Lower Makefield Township, Upper Makefield Township, Warminster Township, Bensalem Township, and Bristol Township, the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office said.

The evidence indicates some of those charged even posed as members of a search party looking for children swept away during the deadly July flash flooding in Upper Makefield, just so they could steal more wire.

The joint investigation found the group took advantage of the tragedy because of the size of the wire in that location and because they knew law enforcement would be overwhelmed with rescue efforts.

On Thursday, eight of the nine defendants were arrested for a variety of crimes that included corrupt organizations, criminal conspiracy, theft, receiving stolen property, theft of metal, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity, criminal mischief, criminal use of a communication facility, and disruption of service.

Read the full story here

If you liked this post, you’ll love our daily environmental newsletter, EnviroPolitics. It’s packed daily with the latest news, commentary, and legislative updates from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware…and beyond. Don’t take our word for it, try it free for an entire month. No obligation.

Wire theft ring, posing as rescuers, steal utility lines in Bucks County Read More »

Is the environment losing its political cachet in New Jersey?

Murphy administration’s aggressive clean-energy push a negative factor?

Aug. 15, 2016: A lift boat, center, that serves as a work platform, assembles a wind turbine off Block Island, R.I.

By Tom Johnson, NJ Spotlight

For many years, the environment enjoyed broad bipartisan support among the public and those elected to shape policies. Yet, amid a worsening climate crisis, that support appears to be wavering in New Jersey.

In this fall’s election, with all 120 of the state’s legislative seats on the ballot, there is mounting speculation whether the Murphy administration’s aggressive push to clean energy could be a significant factor in a handful of closely contested districts. And not in a positive way.

“It is the first time I can recall, in my memory, the environment has been shown to be a negative in legislative elections,’’ said Jeff Tittel, a longtime environmentalist and native of New Jersey.

Whether this trend is enough to end the Democrats’ long control of the Legislature remains to be seen, but as policies to implement the shift to green energy move closer to reality, they have triggered a surprising pushback not only from residents but also from politicians on both sides of the aisle.

The opposition centers on some of the key initiatives identified as the focus of the state’s clean-energy goals: offshore wind farms off the coast; phasing out the natural gas used to heat homes; and finally, a proposal to ban the sale of new gasoline-powered cars in New Jersey beginning in 2035.

“It is too much, too fast and no one has put a price tag on what it is all going to cost,’’ said Sen. Anthony Bucco (R-Morris), who added “many folks see Gov. Murphy’s Energy Master Plan as extreme.’’

Top Democrats grow wary about unanswered questions on offshore wind

But clean-energy advocates dispute support for the environment is fading, insisting climate action remains strong despite a well-funded campaign by the fossil fuel industry.

“The environment has become more partisan,’’ acknowledged Doug O’Malley, director of Environment New Jersey. “Whether it is electric vehicles or offshore wind, there is always a push from the right to muck up the issues,’’ he said. “Bringing change is hard. This is not going to happen overnight.

Read the full story here

Is the environment losing its political cachet in New Jersey? Read More »

Ford Says U.A.W. Strike is benefitting Tesla and Toyota

Mr. Ford, the executive chairman of Ford Motor, said nonunion automakers would make gains against Michigan automakers because of strikes by the United Automobile Workers union.

*“Ford’s ability to invest in the future isn’t just a talking point,” William Clay Ford Jr. said. “It is the absolute lifeblood of our company. Credit…Carlos Osorio/Associated Press*

By Neal E. Boudette, New York Times Oct. 16, 2023

The month-long strike by the United Automobile Workers and the union’s demands for substantial pay and benefits increase the risk of damaging the U.S. auto industry, hurting its ability to compete against nonunion foreign rivals, the executive chairman of Ford Motor said on Monday.

The fight should not be seen as the U.A.W. against Ford, or its crosstown rivals, General Motors and Stellantis, said William C. Ford Jr., the great-grandson of the company’s founder Henry Ford, noting that at times U.A.W. officials have referred to the automakers as the union’s “enemy.”

“It should be Ford and the U.A.W. against Toyota, Honda, Tesla, and all the Chinese companies that want to enter our home market,” Mr. Ford said at the company’s Rouge plant in Dearborn, Mich.

“Toyota, Honda, Tesla, and the others are loving the strike because they know the longer it goes on, the better it is for them,” the executive chairman said. “They will win, and all of us will lose.”

Mr. Ford’s remarks alluded to a period several decades ago when the U.A.W. won increasingly rich contracts that were later seen by many industry experts as having hobbled the three Michigan automakers in the face of competition from Japanese and European carmakers. Ford came to the brink of collapse, and G.M. and Chrysler — now part of Stellantis — had to seek bankruptcy protection after the 2008 financial crisis.

Read the full story here

Ford Says U.A.W. Strike is benefitting Tesla and Toyota Read More »

Op-Ed: “It’s Code Red.” Clean Water Action calls for fact-based decisions on offshore wind energy

We can’t let climate change fatigue make us throw up our hands in defeat and party like it’s 2029

By Janet Tauro and William Nierstedt, Clean Water Action

In the midst of severe worldwide climate-driven catastrophes, Governor Murphy recently stated in a radio interview that sweeping plans for the state’s offshore wind project that are essential to the state’s clean energy goals are in jeopardy without federal assistance.

Let’s hope that assistance comes through and fact-based support for wind energy regains momentum. Our country has long supported the infrastructure needed to power our economy – from transportation to drinking water – through policy, subsidies, and tax incentives. The nuclear power industry in NJ receives $300 million annually in subsidies. Globally, the International Monetary Fund reported that fossil fuel industries received $7 trillion in subsidies in 2022.

Climate studies widely reported by a team of United Nations scientists repeatedly warn that we must stop burning fossil fuels to stop heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions, with the Secretary-General declaring this a “code red” climate emergency.

Even the US Department of Defense has identified climate change as a national security issue.

We need to employ the best 21st-century technology to meet our energy needs, and in NJ, given its topography and steady coastal breezes, wind energy, which does not emit greenhouse gases, is essential, as is energy efficiency and solar. The state ranks eighth in the nation for solar installations, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association, a national trade organization.

Rising global temperatures are melting arctic glaciers and threatening creatures that depend on ice like polar bears. The water from that melting ice is raising sea levels around the world risking coastline communities. In NJ, the state is experiencing more extreme storms, heat-related illnesses, flooding, and displacement from homes.

Tropical storm Ida barrelled through NJ in 2021, killing 30 people and destroying neighborhoods. Superstorm Sandy reportedly cost NJ and NY $69 billion to rebuild, and that is not including health care costs. Recent Hurricane Idalia damage estimates in Florida reported by Forbes could top $20 billion. Hurricane Ian caused 150 deaths and over $112 billion in damages.

The unsustainable costs and frequency have prompted some insurance companies to reportedly strike coverage for natural disasters and raise premiums.

Against this climate change backdrop, marine life globally is suffering and in NJ a spate of whale deaths has turned into an ugly political imbroglio. Scientists are delving deep to determine the cause; which at present appears to be vessel strikes, negative impacts to traditional food sources from warming waters, as well as ingestion of fishing gear and plastics. The Biden-Harris Administration reportedly released $82 million recently for whale protection measures.

The last thing the whales, all marine life, and we humans need is nasty bickering that detracts from careful scientific decisions necessary for our collective survival. We can’t let climate change fatigue make us throw up our hands in defeat and party like it’s 2029; reportedly the year before scientists say greenhouse gas emissions must be slashed by about 50 percent to get to zero emissions by 2050 or else climate change will be irreversible.

Partisan politics should play no part in any climate-abating decisions. Calm, respectful, and fact-based discourse will be our greatest assets during “code red” and beyond. Our survival and future generations depend on the actions we take now.

Janet Tauro, Clean Water Action, NJ Board Chair, and William Nierstedt, PP, AICP, CWA Board member

Op-Ed: “It’s Code Red.” Clean Water Action calls for fact-based decisions on offshore wind energy Read More »

New York communities awarded $73.5M in federal forestry grants

USDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Grants

From the New York Department of Environmental Conservation

On September 14, the USDA Forest Service announced over a billion dollars in funding to urban forestry projects around the country through the Inflation Reduction Action. 28 communities in New York were awarded grants, totaling $73.5 million dollars – the second highest state amount, and the highest amount of any state per capita! We are so excited for these communities and look forward to supporting the amazing projects over the next 5 years.

Some highlights:

$9 million for the Central New York Planning Board’s project to provide resources for disadvantaged communities in Central New York.
$8 million for the City of Buffalo Equity in Street Trees Program (B.E.S.T.) which aims to create an equitable urban tree canopy.
$3 million for the City of Rochester’s project to increase tree-stocking levels in underserved and disadvantaged communities, create a more equitable distribution of trees in the City, and educate and engage community members in tree planting and stewardship.
$1 million for Mount Vernon to implement an Urban Forestry Program that includes hiring program staff, conducting a city-wide tree inventory and mapping, developing of an urban forest management plan, and community outreach and education.
$1 million for the Town of North Hempstead to conserve and increase equitable tree canopy as well as educate residents about their value and proactive maintenance.
$597,000 for the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe’s Akwesasne Urban Tree Canopy Assessment and Management project, which aims to improve the urban tree canopy in Akwesasne through a street tree inventory, development of an updated forest management plan, and implementation via tree planting and maintenance.
$400,000 for the City of Glens Falls to implement a tree management plan in two disadvantaged communities and hire a certified arborist.

View the entire list of New York Communities that received funding.

New York communities awarded $73.5M in federal forestry grants Read More »

Gov. Newsom signs law expanding California’s bottle bill program

Plastic bottles — Recycled plastic bottles are seen at the San Francisco Recycling Center March 2, 2005 in San Francisco, California *Justin Sullivan via Getty Images*

By Cole Rosengren, Waste Dive

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed an expansion to the state’s bottle bill that supporters say will bolster a struggling system of redemption centers.

SB 353, sponsored by state Sen. Bill Dodd, directs CalRecycle to update the formula it uses for processing payments to redemption centers. To calculate values, the system currently uses a 12-month average of scrap values from the prior year, with a minimum three-month lag.

Related bottle bill story
Newsom signs off on update to California’s bottle recycling law

“This undermines the economic viability of centers at times when payments do not compensate centers enough if scrap prices quickly drop, resulting in shortfalls,” said the Container Recycling Institute, a supporter of SB 353, in a statement thanking Newsom for signing the bill into law.

Now, CalRecycle will use a formula that bases processing payments on average scrap values from the prior three months. CRI anticipates this will help more redemption centers stay in business after the state has seen more than half of its locations close in the last 10 years.

Read the full story here

Gov. Newsom signs law expanding California’s bottle bill program Read More »