EnviroPolitics Blog

Sail the Hudson Aboard NJ’s Official Tall Ship, The AJ Meerwald!

Sail on the Hudson River Aboard NJ’s Official Tall Ship, The AJ Meerwald!
Friday, July 12- Sunday July 14 Various Times/Themes Alpine Boat Basin
Click here to register now! For more information, click here.

Join ANJEC and program partners The Tenafly Nature Center aboard the historic schooner AJ Meerwald, New Jersey’s official Tall Ship! Engage in hands-on learning about the ecological and cultural significance of The Hudson River.

Guests will help raise the sail, explore native wildlife, learn about the history and significance of ships like The Meerwald, and rotate through interactive learning stations!

Friday, July 12th, 4:30pm, Children’s Sail Saturday, July 13th, 9:30am, Children’s Sail Saturday, July 13, 12:30pm, Brewery on the Boat Sunday, July 14, 9:30am, Children’s Sail, Sunday, July 14, 12:30pm, Music & History of the Hudson. This program is intended for families with children ages 9 and up. Space is limited and pre-registration is required.

Click here to register now!
For more information, click here.

Pricing Information: (This pricing only available until June 25th)Children’s Sails: $125 Adult /Child Pair, $75 Additional Adult, $50 Additional Child Engage in hands-on learning about the ecological and cultural significance of The Hudson River.

Guests will help raise the sail, explore native wildlife, learn about the history and significance of ships like The Meerwald, and rotate through interactive learning stations! Brewery on the Boat: $100 Per Person Enjoy a tasting of craft beers from local craft brewery, Gentle Giant, while focusing on the enjoyment of the river and the company of those on board. Gentle Giant Brewing is dedicated to bold styled beers that showcase intense flavor profiles and the highest quality ingredients. Music & History Sail: $100 Per Person Enjoy Palisades Interstate Park Historian, Eric Nelsen, and Musical Artist, (TBA), as they introduce guests to the history of the area through music and stories.

– Departure Information – Meet at the Alpine Boat Basin (this is where the sail departs from).Each trip is limited to 50 people. Fees must be pre-paid. Check-in with staff at the dock gate is required 15 minutes prior to departure. All trips depart and return to the Alpine Boat Basin, Exit 2 off the Palisades Interstate Parkway. Weekend sails do not include $5 parking fee.

Click here to register now! For more information, click here.

ANJEC www.anjec.org info@anjec.org 973-539-7547

Sail the Hudson Aboard NJ’s Official Tall Ship, The AJ Meerwald! Read More »

Former top NJ prosecutor reviews the Norcross indictment

Ed Stier, a former federal and New Jersey state prosecutor specializing in complex organized crime and corruption prosecutions, gives more expert insight on George Norcross’ 111-page indictment.

Other fallout from explosive indictment of New Jersey political boss George Norcross:
Who’s up, Who’s down : Week of Norcross indictment (Insider NJ)
Wake Up Call: Norcross Lawyer Sees Fallout from Criminal Charges (Bloomberg Law)
Early fallout from Norcross indictment (NJ Spotlight News)

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. Please do not take our word for it, try it free for an entire month. No obligation.

Former top NJ prosecutor reviews the Norcross indictment Read More »

So much for NJ Transit’s return to normal this morning

Commuters suffering another suspension of service this morning. One train dies just yards from its destination. Riders told to get out and walk

So much for NJ Transit’s return to normal this morning Read More »

Bill to help New Jersey transition to electric school buses advances

TRENTON – The New Jersey Senate Education Committee advanced legislation sponsored by Senator Patrick Diegnan that would authorize school districts to enter into extended contracts and lease terms for electric school buses, in addition to permitting the New Jersey School Boards Association to serve as a government aggregator.

The bill, S3263, represents a continuation of state efforts to enable the transition towards electric school buses. In 2022, the Governor signed P.L. 2022, c.86 to establish the “Electric School Bus Program”. That legislation, also sponsored by Senator Diegnan, provided for $45 million over three years in grant funding to support the purchase of electric school buses and necessary charging infrastructure.

“School buses are a safer and more environmentally friendly way to get kids to school, reducing traffic, total vehicle emissions, and providing more safety in the event of an accident,” said Senator Diegnan (D-Middlesex). “Although less harmful than the use of personal vehicles, currently utilized diesel buses continue to create harmful emissions. Electric school buses, though, completely eliminate that toxic exhaust, protecting our children’s health and setting an example of sustainability for our future generations.”

Current law allows districts to enter into a contract for the lease of electric school buses and associated infrastructure for a period of 10 years. Under the bill, this provision would be altered to instead allow districts to enter into a contract for electric school buses as well as related charging equipment and services for a period not to exceed the service life of the electric school bus.

“This legislative effort would give New Jersey schools the flexibility they need to enable their transition towards electric school buses, a goal that is held back by financial constraints, a lack of familiarity with the technology, and because many districts do not own their own buses and instead rely upon contracted services,” added Senator Diegnan. “In essence, this bill would extend the benefits of electric buses to more districts and more children than previous programs have thus far accomplished.”

The legislation would additionally permit the New Jersey School Boards Association to serve as a government aggregator, effectively allowing it to procure electric school buses and necessary infrastructure on behalf of its members. In doing so, the School Boards Association can aggregate demand and obtain more favorable contract terms at a lower cost, while enabling districts that would otherwise be unable to afford or implement such a transition the ability to do so.

The bill was advanced in a 3-2 vote.

Bill to help New Jersey transition to electric school buses advances Read More »

NJ bill to prohibit sale of gas-powered leaf blowers clears committee

From The New Jersey Senate Democrats

TRENTON – The Senate Environment and Energy Committee advanced legislation sponsored by its Chair, Senator Bob Smith, which would prohibit the sale and use of gas-powered leaf blowers, except under certain circumstances. As defined in the bill, a “gas-powered leaf blower” has a two-stroke or four-stroke engine and uses gasoline or a gasoline and oil blend as fuel.

     “Gas-powered leaf blowers have for years been a scourge on the local environment. Not only are they massive polluters, but they are also a nuisance to people trying to enjoy the outdoors,” said Senator Smith (D-Middlesex/Somerset). “There are an abundance of cheap electric alternatives, which are quieter, safer to operate, and less harmful for the environment.”

     Gas-powered leaf blowers emit high rates of pollutants. The amount of carbon monoxide emitted from a typical backpack gas-powered leaf blower for just one hour is equal to the amount of carbon monoxide emitted from the tailpipe of an automobile operating for over eight hours, and, for the other pollutants, the amounts are even greater.

     In addition to environmental consequences, gas-powered leaf blowers are also associated with occupational health concerns. They generate noise at a decibel level capable of causing hearing loss in a short amount of time, and send dust and other small particles into the air for considerable distances.

     Under the bill, S217, the sale or distribution of gas-powered leaf blowers with a two-stroke engine would be prohibited two years after the bill’s effective date, while their use would be prohibited four years after its effective date. The use of gas-powered leaf blowers with a four-stroke engine would be prohibited four years after the bill’s effective date, with certain exceptions for municipal use and during peak seasons.

     Any person who violates the bill’s provisions would be subject to a civil penalty of not less than $500 nor more than $1,000 for each offense.

     The bill was advanced in a 3-2 vote.

NJ bill to prohibit sale of gas-powered leaf blowers clears committee Read More »

NJ-NY rail service getting back on track after long, hot interruptions

The last few days have been an overheated nightmare for thousands of rail commuters trying to travel between New Jersey and New York.

NJ Transit, Amtrak service resumes after suspension due to power issues, large fire near NJ Turnpike

By Jacob Flanagan, FOX 5

NJ Transit and Amtrak service along the northeast corridor resumed Thursday evening after power issues caused by a nearby brush fire had caused a suspension.

A power failure that Amtrak attributed to a malfunctioning circuit breaker somewhere along the tunnels under the Hudson River caused the original suspension, leaving passengers stranded for hours.

A brush fire in the vicinity of County Road in Secaucus, New Jersey had also impacted wire repairs, but the fire was extinguished by early Thursday evening.

Emergency crews are working to extinguish the flames.

Meanwhile, Amtrak said that service had been temporarily disrupted between Philadelphia 30th Street Station and New Haven Union Station due to a malfunctioning circuit breaker that had caused a loss of power on the tracks between Penn Station and Newark Union Station.

NJ-NY rail service getting back on track after long, hot interruptions Read More »