EnviroPolitics Blog

1,200 Acre Wildfire Shuts Garden State Parkway in South Jersey

The Barnegat blaze is burning deep in the Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area, where NJ Forest Fire Service crews remain on scene reinforcing containment lines and backfiring ahead of the flames.

As of 5 p.m., the fire was 0% contained.

According to the New Jersey Department of Transportation, both directions of the Garden State Parkway have been impacted:

Northbound lanes closed at Exit 63A (NJ 72 East) in Stafford Township
Southbound lanes closed south of Exit 80 (CR 530) in Beachwood

The Ocean County Sheriff’s Office added:

“Expect delays on the Garden State Parkway south of Toms River due to a brush fire in Barnegat Township! Thanks to all of our first responders keeping us all safe.”

Many residents expressed concern for Out of Sight Alpacas, an Alpaca farm located along Wells Mills Road.

The NJ Forest Fire Service said 16 structures are threatened along Bryant Road and Wells Mills Road (Rt. 532). All have been evacuated as a precaution.

Other road closures include:

Rt. 532 (Wells Mills Road) from Rt. 72 to the Parkway
Bryant Road from Rt. 532 to Rt. 539
Jones Road from Rt. 532 to Bryant Road

Deployed resources include:

Fire engines, bulldozers, and ground crews
A Forest Fire Service helicopter (300-gallon capacity)
An observation helicopter
An air tanker capable of dropping 600 gallons of water

1,200 Acre Wildfire Shuts Garden State Parkway in South Jersey Read More »

Legislation to help New Jersey residents manage utility costs signed

Bailey, Simmons, Miller bill creating “Energy Bill Watch” Program seeks to prevent sticker shock when residents receive their utility bills

(TRENTON) — Ahead of the anticipated rise in utility costs and after one of the hottest summers on record and a winter with below-freezing temperatures, Governor Phil Murphy signed a bill into law today to ensure New Jersey residents are not caught off guard by unexpected and excessive utility bills.

Bill A4817, sponsored by Assembly members Dave Bailey Jr., Heather Simmons, and Cody Miller, will require electric and gas public utilities to establish an “Energy Bill Watch” program. The program would notify smart meter customers when their energy consumption exceeds certain thresholds, giving them the tools to manage their usage and avoid high costs.

“The sticker shock of large utility bills at the end of the month can be unaffordable for working families trying to manage household finances,” said Assemblyman Bailey (D-Gloucester, Salem, Cumberland). “The early notifications will give them the ability to adjust their usage and prevent surprise bills that break their budgets.”

“Public utility companies should be taking advantage of the technology and rapid communication methods we have available to keep every household informed,” said Assemblywoman Simmons (D-Gloucester, Salem, Cumberland). “This plan will provide the information that customers need in ways that are easy to use.”

“Everyone deserves to come home to a comfortable environment, whether it’s cooling off in the summer or warming up in the winter, without the worry of high energy costs,” said Assemblyman Miller (D-Atlantic, Camden, Gloucester). “By providing up-to-date information through simple notifications, we can help families better budget and plan for their energy use, ensuring that comfort doesn’t come at a financial cost.”

Legislation to help New Jersey residents manage utility costs signed Read More »

Bill signed into law to repair 17 NJ dams and inland water projects

Seventeen dams and inland waters projects will receive an increase in funding for repairs and restoration thanks to legislation sponsored by Senate Republican Leader Anthony M. Bucco (R-25) and signed into law today by Governor Murphy.

“I’m glad that over $28M will be invested to fund projects in a number of municipalities in my District and around the State. These critical dam repairs will preserve and protect our local environment, which is critical to our quality of life,” said Bucco. “This funding will also protect the flow of clean drinking water to communities throughout the State, support recreational activities, and provide habitats for fish and wildlife.”

Bucco’s legislation, S-2594, appropriates $28,670,924 in 2003 and 1992 bond act monies for loans for dam restoration and repair projects and inland waters projects.

Under the bill, $5.2M dollars will be invested to fund projects in Morris and Passaic counties, including projects in West Milford and Jefferson Township:

High Crest Lake Dam: $1,250,000
Mount Glen Dam: $3,000,000
Upper & Lower Farm Crest Dams: $350,000
High Crest Lake: $500,000
Swannanoa Lake Dam: $100,000
Lake Winona Dam: $4,700,000

Overall, the funds from the 2003 bond act will provide loans to thirteen projects: High Crest Lake Dam; Mount Glen Dam; Lake Winona Dam; Cooper River Pkwy. Dam; Giffords Mill Dam; Upper & Lower Farm Crest; Lake Plymouth Dam; Braddock Mill Lake Dam; Fawn Lake Dam; Camp Karney Dam; Pine Mill Lake Dam; Holiday Pond Dam; and High Crest Lake.

The funds from the 1992 bond act will provide four loans for the following projects: Mountain Creek Lake Dam; Silver Lake Dam; Lake Garrison Dam; and Swannanoa Lake Dam.

If you like 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 a full monthThe funds from the 1992 bond act will provide four loans for the following projects: Mountain Creek Lake Dam; Silver Lake Dam; Lake Garrison Dam; and Swannanoa Lake Dam.

Bill signed into law to repair 17 NJ dams and inland water projects Read More »

Harvard University Sues Trump Administration Over Funding Threats

Harvard’s lawsuit comes after the administration sought to force the university to comply with a list of demands by cutting billions in federal funding the school receives.

By Stephanie Saul, The New York Times

Harvard, the world’s wealthiest university, sued the Trump administration on Monday, fighting back against its threats to slash billions of dollars from the school’s research funding as part of a crusade against the nation’s top colleges.

The lawsuit signaled a major escalation of the ongoing fight between higher education and President Trump, who has vowed to “reclaim” elite universities. The administration has cast its campaign as a fight against antisemitism, but has also targeted programs and teaching related to racial diversity and gender issues.

Earlier this month, it sent Harvard a list of demands that included auditing professors for plagiarism, reporting to the federal government any international students accused of misconduct, and appointing an outside overseer to make sure that academic departments were “viewpoint diverse.”

Alan M. Garber, Harvard’s president, accused the government in a statement on Monday of trying to wield “unprecedented and improper control.” Dr. Garber said the consequences of the government’s actions would be “severe and long lasting.”

The Trump administration has claimed that Harvard and other schools have allowed antisemitic language and harassment to remain unchecked on their campuses. Monday’s lawsuit noted that the government had cited the university’s response to antisemitism as justification for its “unlawful action.”

Dr. Garber, in his statement, said that “as a Jew and as an American, I know very well that there are valid concerns about rising antisemitism.” But he said that the government was legally required to engage with the university about the ways it was fighting antisemitism. Instead, he said, the government has sought to control “whom we hire and what we teach.”

Read the full story here

Harvard University Sues Trump Administration Over Funding Threats Read More »

Recovering valuable material from end-of-life scooter batteries

A battery powers a Lime e-bike. Lime announced it has partnered with Redwood Materials to be the sole battery recycler for such batteries in the United States, Germany and The Netherlands. Courtesy of Lime

By Megan Quinn, Waste Dive

Battery recycler Redwood Materials has partnered with micromobility company Lime to recover and recycle battery materials from end-of-life e-bikes and e-scooters.

The deal makes Redwood Materials the exclusive battery recycling partner for Lime’s scooters and bikes throughout the United States, as well as in Germany and The Netherlands, according to a news release.

Redwood aims to recover and recycle materials from the batteries such as lithium, cobalt, nickel and copper. Redwood expects that about 95% of those recovered materials will be “reintegrated into the battery supply chain.”

The partnership comes as recyclers call for improved battery recycling systems in the U.S., particularly for lithium-ion batteries. Advocates say better domestic systems help reduce the country’s dependence on international supply chains and avoid battery-related fires in recycling facilities and around major cities.

Read the full story here

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Federal grant freeze threatens local farms & food access. Foodshed Alliance Launches Emergency Fundraiser

[Hope, NJ] – [April 2025] – The Foodshed Alliance, a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening
sustainable farming and increasing food access, is facing an unprecedented funding crisis due
to a federal grant freeze.

To keep local farms thriving, ensure families have access to fresh, healthy food, and sustain
critical food security programs, the organization has launched an
emergency GoFundMe campaign: https://www.gofundme.com/f/foodshed-alliance-urgent-
fundraising.

For nearly two decades, we’ve relied on federal grants to run programs that directly support
small farmers, distribute fresh food to families in need, and rescue surplus produce from going
to waste. Now, due to circumstances beyond our control, we are expected to uphold these
commitments without the financial support promised to us. Without immediate community
action, these essential programs are at risk.

What’s at Stake?
● Farmers Losing Land & Market Access – Without support, small farms may not
survive, affecting local food production.
● Families Losing Access to Fresh Food – Our free pop-up markets and food pantry
partnerships may be scaled back, leaving shelves empty.
● Gleaning Initiative at Risk – Thousands of pounds of farm-fresh food could go to waste
instead of feeding those in need.

How You Can Help
The Foodshed Alliance is calling on the community to rally behind this fundraiser to bridge the
funding gap while seeking long-term solutions. Every dollar raised will go directly toward
keeping farmland in production, ensuring families continue receiving fresh food, and sustaining
programs that support a healthy local food system.

Donate today and help protect the future of local farms and food access:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/foodshed-alliance-urgent-fundraising

Campaign Progress & Updates
We will be updating the GoFundMe page, as well as our social media pages, regularly with
fundraising progress, stories from impacted farmers and families, and ways to continue
supporting our mission.

About Foodshed Alliance
The Foodshed Alliance is a nonprofit organization, located in Bucks County, Pa., which is
dedicated to strengthening sustainable farming, increasing food access, and protecting
the environment.

Federal grant freeze threatens local farms & food access. Foodshed Alliance Launches Emergency Fundraiser Read More »