EnviroPolitics Blog

Judge rules Alina Habba can’t continue as U.S. attorney for NJ

By Briana Vannozzi, Anchor | NJ Spotlight News, August 22, 2025

A federal judge in Pennsylvania has ruled that Alina Habba, President Trump’s former personal lawyer, does not have the authority to serve as New Jersey’s top federal prosecutor because of the Trump administration’s violation of appointment rules.

Judge Matthew Brann’s decision halts Habba’s involvement in ongoing cases and deepens concerns over how the U.S. Justice Department is handling the appointments of top prosecutors.

“Faced with the question of whether Ms. Habba is lawfully performing the functions and duties of the office of the United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey, I conclude that she is not,” Brann, the chief district judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, wrote in a 77-page ruling that was released Thursday.

Several people charged with federal crimes in New Jersey had challenged the legality of Habba’s tenure.

Professor Jacob Elberg, of Seton Hall Law School and a former assistant attorney in New Jersey’s U.S. Attorney’s office, spoke with NJ Spotlight News about the ruling and its potential impact on federal prosecutions in New Jersey.

“It’s a real problem,” said Elberg. “First of all, leadership uncertainty in any organization is a significant challenge. But here, it’s worse than that because these cases are hard enough. The job is hard enough without dealing with the potential that cases may be viewed as not legitimate because of her involvement, and in fact that she’s unlawfully in the position.”

Habba knocks Judge Grassley after his ruling (The Hill)
Fallout from the Alina Habba ruling has begun (Politico)

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State Of Emergency Declared As Hurricane Erin Slams NJ

By Veronica Flesher, Patch Staff, Updated Thu, Aug 21, 2025 at 2:23 pm ET

*High surf is seen in Seaside Heights on Aug. 19. (Karen Wall/Patch)*

Gov. Phil Murphy has declared a State of Emergency for all of New Jersey on Thursday as Hurricane Erin makes its closest pass, bringing 17-foot waves, major coastal flooding to parts of the shore, life-threatening rip currents, and eroding beaches.

This went into effect at 2 p.m.

“Over the past couple of days, we have seen the effects of Hurricane Erin along the Jersey Shore in the form of dangerous rip tides. Today and tomorrow will be no exception,” Murphy said. “As the storm moves past New Jersey over the next 24 hours, we are expecting high surf and rip currents, coastal and flash flooding, and a high erosion risk in parts of the state. We ask all New Jerseyans to monitor local weather forecasts and warnings and stay informed on evacuation protocols, especially if you’re down the Shore.”

Murphy encouraged residents to visit ready.nj.gov for important weather updates and safety information. Those in affected areas are asked to be mindful of evacuation routes.

Read the full story here

State Of Emergency Declared As Hurricane Erin Slams NJ Read More »

You’ll find your tip in the chip bag, Mr. reporter

Winnie Greco, wearing a dark blue ball cap and holding a cellphone and a bottle of water, at a campaign rally for Eric Adams last month in Queens. — *Winnie Greco was the mayor’s former director of Asian affairs at City Hall and one of his best fund-raisers. Credit…Nicole Craine for The New York Times*

By Bianca Pallaro Jay Root and Emma G. Fitzsimmons, New York Times

A close adviser to Mayor Eric Adams was suspended from his re-election campaign on Wednesday after giving a journalist cash tucked inside a potato chip bag.

The adviser, Winnie Greco, who was the mayor’s former director of Asian affairs at City Hall and one of his best fund-raisers, had returned to the campaign trail as a volunteer during Mr. Adams’s run for a second term. She had been at the center of controversy after the F.B.I. raided her homes last year as part of a federal investigation into possible Chinese government interference in the 2021 mayor’s race.

On Wednesday, Ms. Greco attended an event with Mr. Adams in Harlem and gave more than $100 in a red envelope stashed inside the snack bag to a reporter for The City, according to an article in the online news outlet. The City promptly reported the incident to the city’s Department of Investigation, and federal prosecutors in Brooklyn contacted the newspaper’s lawyers, according to the newspaper’s account.

Read the full story here

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Battery recycling efforts continue in North America this summer.

Notable new projects and regulations aim to streamline recycling programs, make recycling less confusing for residents, and more efficiently funnel critical materials into domestic supply chains.

By Megan Quinn, Waste Dive

Notable new projects and regulations aim to streamline recycling programs, make recycling less confusing for residents and more efficiently funnel critical materials into domestic supply chains.

Here’s a roundup of recent battery recycling news. What battery recycling trends and news are you tracking? Let us know at waste.dive.editors@industrydive.com.

Princeton NuEnergy opens black mass recycling facility in South Carolina

Princeton NuEnergy, a lithium-ion battery recycling and cathode manufacturing company, said last week its advanced black mass recycling production facility in South Carolina is now fully commissioned and operational.

PNE says the flagship facility is the first commercial-scale advanced black mass and battery-grade cathode active material production facility in the country. The facility is part of PNE’s goal to recycle and produce critical battery minerals in the U.S., especially as federal policy focuses more on establishing domestic energy production and supply chains, the company said in a statement.

The facility, located in Chester, South Carolina, has a 5,000 metric tons per annum capacity and mainly produces “high-purity” black mass from manufacturing scrap. In 2026, the company expects to expand capacity to 15,000 tpa, with the capability to scale up to 50,000 tpa “as market demand grows,” PNE stated. PNE says the operation can achieve a recovery yield of over 97%.

Read the full story here

Battery recycling efforts continue in North America this summer. Read More »

Minnesota approves first stand-alone battery storage system

By Dan Kraker, Minnesota Public Radio

Minnesota utility regulators have approved the state’s first stand-alone energy storage project, an important milestone in Minnesota’s effort to transition to producing completely carbon-free electricity.

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approved a site permit for the 150-megawatt Snowshoe Energy Storage Project, which will be built on an 18-acre site west of Rochester, near the town of Byron.

The batteries will store excess electricity produced by nearby solar and wind farms, and then discharge the power during times of high demand — for example, when people return home from work and school and turn on their air conditioners.

Several battery energy storage systems have been built or approved recently in Minnesota in conjunction with solar energy projects, including a facility approved in July in Faribault County, south of Mankato.

But the Snowshoe project, to be developed by Spearmint Energy, a battery system developer based in Miami with an office in Eden Prairie in the Twin Cities area, is the first standalone battery system to be built in the state that will be connected directly to the electric grid.

Read the full story here

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Energy experts offer insights at NJ state joint-committee hearing

By Frank Brill, EnviroPolitics Editor

New Jersey lawmakers from both chambers questioned energy experts and state officials on August 14 about surging electricity prices, setbacks to offshore wind projects, and the future of New Jersey’s clean energy strategy.

The hearing, held in the shore town of Point Pleasant by the Senate Environment and Energy Committee and the Assembly Environment Committee, featured testimony from the president of the Board of Public Utilities and a diverse lineup of academics, industry leaders, and policy advocates. Their insights revealed both the promise and pitfalls of the state’s ambitious energy transition.

🔍 Speaker Highlights

Christine Guhl-Sadovy – President, NJ Board of Public Utilities

• Announced $100 in bill credits for residential customers to offset recent 20% electricity rate hikes.

• Defended offshore wind investments despite setbacks, citing long-term affordability and climate goals.

• Faced bipartisan criticism for lack of short-term solutions and transparency.

Abe Silverman – Johns Hopkins University

• Warned that federal permitting delays and market volatility are undermining clean energy progress.

• Urged New Jersey to diversify its energy portfolio beyond offshore wind.

Dr. Onur Bilgen – Rutgers University

• Presented research on tidal and wave energy potential along NJ’s coast.

• Called for pilot projects and state funding to validate feasibility.

Assemblyman Robert Karabinchak (LD-18)

• Advocated for legislative support of ocean energy technologies.

• Framed tidal and wave energy as a strategic complement to offshore wind.

Philipp Stratmann – CEO, Ocean Power Technologies

• Highlighted successful wave energy deployments globally.

• Urged streamlined permitting and incentives for private-sector innovation.

David Weis – Princeton University

• Shared Princeton’s success with thermal energy networks.

• Argued for district-scale geothermal systems in urban redevelopment zones.

Alex McWard – National Conference of State Legislatures

• Recommended expanding smart metering and dynamic pricing to reduce peak demand.

• Provided national context on demand-side management programs.

Alex Dill & Christine Symington – Sustainable Princeton

• Called for equitable home energy retrofit programs.

• Emphasized community engagement and affordability for low-income households.

Dalton Oberfoell – NCSL

• Discussed legislative trends supporting small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs).

• Encouraged NJ to consider pilot SMR projects for clean baseload power.

Kelly Trice & Dr. Kris Singh – Holtec International

• Promoted Holtec’s SMR technology as scalable, safe, and deployable within five years.

• Positioned nuclear as essential to meeting reliability and decarbonization goals.

Click the link below for a recording of the hearing

https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/archived-media/2024/SEN-meeting-list/media-player?committee=SEN&agendaDate=2025-08-14-10:00:00&agendaType=M&av=A

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