Enviros want governor to block No. Jersey frack-gas plant


Michael Hill reports for NJTV News:

Environmentalists oppose the North Bergen Liberty Generating Plant. A subsidiary of Mitsubishi wants to build the fracked gas-fired plant in New Jersey and have its electricity power Manhattan. Critics say that’s incompatible with candidate and Gov. Phil Murphy’s pledge.
“I remain and we remain committed to a new energy master plan, one that we have not had in a long time in this state that would see our state achieve 100 percent clean energy by the year 2050,” Murphy said last December.
Environmentalists feel empowered by the governor’s words and on Tuesday made a big demand of the governor.
“Today we’re calling on Gov. Murphy to sign an executive order putting a moratorium on all new power plants that are from fossil fuels,” said Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.
Murphy replied to the plan on Tuesday, saying, “I always scratch my head with something that is being done here that some other state will benefit from, but beyond that I don’t an opinion.”

Enviros want governor to block No. Jersey frack-gas plant Read More »

Lowest property towns taxes in each of N.J.’s 21 counties

Atlantic County sceneSamantha Marcus reports for NJ.com:
New Jersey’s average property taxes may
have hit a new record high last year, but you can find plenty of property tax
bargains in all of of New Jersey’s 21 counties.
So which towns have the lowest property taxes in your county, as well as
all the others? We’ve charted 63 towns where homeowners are lucky enough to
have some of the lowest tax bills in New Jersey.
You can find at least three towns where the property taxes are lower
than the state average of $8,690 in 20 of the 21 counties. The other county —
Passaic — has two towns in that category.
And some counties have towns where the property taxes are but a fraction
of the state average. A low property tax bill for Cumberland County is quite
different than a low tax bill for Passaic County.
See for yourself below, as we go county-by-county to find
the lowest average tax bills, based on data from the state Department of
Community Affairs.

Lowest property towns taxes in each of N.J.’s 21 counties Read More »

NYC commercial waste change leaves everyone unhappy

City wants collection zones, competition too

Matthew Flamm reports for Crain’s:
Three years ago, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the city
would look into a radical new system for the private pickup of commercial
waste. Exclusive collection zones, his plan suggested, might reduce the hazards
and pollution that come with scores of carting companies operating randomly
across the five boroughs.



The analysis, released a year later, forecast big benefits from
zones served by a single hauler, but it sparked fierce opposition from carters,
real estate interests and the wider business community. Now the Department of
Sanitation is floating a compromise: zones with two to five franchisees each,
perhaps with subcontractors as well.

The controversy didn’t die.


NYC commercial waste change leaves everyone unhappy Read More »

Opinion: Why should NJ families subsidize nukes in PA?

PSEG's nuclear station in Salem County.

PSEG’s nuclear station in Salem County.

Columnist Tom Moran writes for The Star-Ledger:

New Jersey families and businesses are likely to be hit soon by a $300 million annual surcharge on electric bills to subsidize PSEG’s nuclear plants.

Now, we learn that a good chunk of that money could be exported to Pennsylvania, to support its nuclear plants.
That’s right. Pennsylvania would get the jobs. We would pay the bill. Ralph Izzo, the boss at PSEG, just confirmed that in a conference call with investors.
This is the worst bill to win approval in years. The cost could amount to $3 billion over the next decade, a staggering sum. And the money would be raised in the cruelest way possible, through higher electricity bills, not progressive taxation. The poor pay the same rates as the rich, and if they can’t keep up, PSEG can turn out the lights.
It was muscled through the Legislature by Senate President Steve Sweeney, D, Gloucester, whose district is home to the three PSEG nukes in New Jersey. He set up bogus hearings where legislators who barely understand the energy markets passively listened to a parade of compelling protests from businesses, environmentalists, consumer advocates, and PSEG’s competitors – all of whom are begging Gov. Phil Murphy to veto this bill.
How bad is it? For the first time in history, the Ratepayer Advocate, the one person whose job is to keep a lid on electric bills, would lose the right to be present when these subsidies are discussed at the Board of Public Utilities. She’d need special permission, which could be denied. That’s revealing.

Opinion: Why should NJ families subsidize nukes in PA? Read More »

Parking near the beach? How about on the beach?

The Race of Gentlemen, vintage car and motorcycle racing on the beach in Wildwood, Saturday, June 10, 2017. (Lori M. Nichols | For NJ.com)

The Race of Gentlemen, vintage car and motorcycle racing on the beach in Wildwood, Saturday, June 10, 2017. (Lori M. Nichols | For NJ.com)(Lori M. Nichols)


By Frank Brill
EnviroPolitics Editor


Wildwood has one of the largest beaches you’ll ever stake your beach umbrella into. Unlike some wave-eroded Jersey resort towns,where things can get a little too cheek-to-cheek on  summer weekends, the continuous movement of coastal sands keeps adding to city’s beaches. So much so that Wildwood this summer will allow visitors to park on the beach.  


Well, make that a section of the beach. And only with a four-wheel-drive vehicle. But still. Parking on the beach will be quite the novelty for a major Jersey Shore destination. 


NJ.com’s Chris Franklin reports:

The parking area, situated near Baker Avenue, will be available for $10 a day, with prices increasing to $20 for special events such as concerts.
To park at the location, vehicles must have four-wheel drive, not all-wheel drive, and will be required to leave at 6 p.m. Visitors will be able to pay with a credit card and cash, and payment via a smartphone app will be made available later.  The lot will be accessible through a tunnel that runs under the boardwalk.
It could make the hike to your favorite spot along the surf — in some spots, 500 yards from the boardwalk — a little shorter. 

Parking near the beach? How about on the beach? Read More »

Speedy and slow subjects before NJ enviro committee


By Frank Brill
EnviroPolitics Editor


Fast-moving vehicles and a slow-moving reptile are the subjects of legislation to be taken up on Thursday, May 10, by the New Jersey Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee. The panel will meet at 2 p.m. in Committee Room 12, 4th Floor, State House Annex in Trenton.

 On the docket are:

A1223 / S1793 (McKeon / Benson / Kennedy / Smith / Greenstein) – Concerns low emission and zero emission vehicles; establishes Clean Vehicle Task Force.

A1530 / S1925 (Zwicker / Bateman) – Designates Bog Turtle as State Reptile. (pending referral)

A2718 (McKeon) – Establishes public-private alternative fueling station pilot program and requires DOT to conduct study.

A2719 (McKeon) – Establishes public-private pilot program for level 3 electric vehicle charging stations.

A3688 (Benson / Pinkin / Zwicker) – Establishes State goals for adoption of plug-in electric vehicles and electric vehicle charging infrastructure; directs DEP and various other State agencies to develop programs to achieve those goals.

A3830 (Pinkin) – Directs BPU to develop and implement electric school bus pilot program. (pending referral)


(The public may address comments and questions to Carrie Anne Calvo-Hahn, Committee Aide, or make bill status and scheduling inquiries to Christine L. Hamilton, Secretary, at 609-847-3855, fax 609-292-0561, or e-mail: OLSAideAEN@njleg.org. Written and electronic comments, questions and testimony submitted to the committee by the public, as well as recordings and transcripts, if any, of oral testimony, are government records and will be available to the public upon request.)

Speedy and slow subjects before NJ enviro committee Read More »

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