Oops, ‘drill anywhere’ means nowhere near Mar-a-Lago



Frank Brill reports for EnviroPolitics Blog:


You can imagine the phone call from President Trump to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke.  

“Zinke, you moron, when I sent the drill-baby-drill-anywhere order I didn’t mean anywhere near Mar a Lago. How the hell are we going to entertain our friends from industry if dead oil birds are filling the sand traps.”


One week after Zinke announced that the Administration was lifting the Obama ban against gas and oil drilling off most of the nation’s coasts, he had to backpedal with the astounding announcement that the coast of Florida would be ‘off the table.’


How can the administration justify the switch?  


In a statement, Zinke said:

“I have witnessed (Florida) Governor (Rick) Scott’s leadership through hurricane season and am working closely with him on Everglades restoration. He is a straightforward leader that can be trusted. President Trump has directed me to rebuild our offshore oil and gas program in a manner that supports our national energy policy and also takes into consideration the local and state voice. I support the governor’s position that Florida is unique and its coasts are heavily reliant on tourism as an economic driver. As a result of discussion with Governor Scott’s [sic] and his leadership, I am removing Florida from consideration for any new oil and gas platforms.”

Incredible! Won’t it be news to the governors of other coastal states that towns like Virginia Beach, Ocean City, Atlantic City, the Hamptons and Cape Cod are not dependent on tourism? 

Good luck with that one. 

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Bill on Christie’s desk would bail out NJ solar not nukes


**UPDATE** Gov. Chris Christie pocked vetoed this bill–and others–on his last date in office on January 16, 2018. — Ed


Tom Johnson reports for NJ Spotlight:
In his final days in office, Gov. Chris Christie will decide the fate of a bill that could direct hundreds of millions of dollars in ratepayer subsidies to back an important part of the energy sector that employs up to 6,000 people in New Jersey.
The legislation, approved without debate on the final day of the lame-duck session on Monday, is not aimed at propping up three nuclear plants in South Jersey, but instead designed to avert a collapse of the state’s solar industry.
Amidst all the hoopla about legislation to subsidize the state’s nuclear plants, hardly any attention was focused on another bill (S-2276) that could commit utility customers to paying nearly $1 billion more over the next 15 years to keep the state’s solar sector afloat, according to the New Jersey Division of Rate Counsel.
That is in the same ballpark as what critics said a bailout of Public Service Enterprise Group’s nuclear plants could end up costing over a decade if that bill also had won final approval this week. The nuclear bill, however, never made it to a vote.

Waiting in the wings

The solar legislation has been kicking around in Trenton for more than a half year, touted as a short-term fix for an industry that has gone through boom-and-bust cycles. By some estimates, the sector could be headed for hard times again, unless the state ramps up mandates to increase solar to power homes and businesses, clean-energy advocates say.
But the question of handing out new subsidies to boost solar raises concerns about just how much ratepayers can absorb in trying to promote clean energy, or carbon-free electricity from nuclear power — and where those finite resources ought to be focused.
New Jersey’s solar market is at risk of coming to halt in mid-2018 after the state meets its renewable portfolio standard (RPS), which it is on track to do by this May, a full decade ahead of schedule, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association, an industry trade group.

‘Short-term fix’

“This legislation approved this week provides a crucial short-term fix that will enable the state’s solar industry to keep growing and adding jobs, while the state works on an even more ambitious long term plan,’’ said Sean Gallagher, vice president of state affairs for the association.
“It means everything to the solar industry,’’ added Lyle Rawlings, president of Advanced Solar Products in Flemington. “It’s basically to keep the industry working during a transition to protect billons of dollars of investments from going underwater.’’
New Jersey’s solar sector certainly has its share of success. It is currently the fifth-largest in the nation with 2,234 megawatts of cumulative solar capacity installed, powered, in part, by lucrative state subsidies and federal incentives.
The potential crisis hinges on the price of solar credits — dubbed solar renewable energy credits (SRECs) — given to owners of solar systems for the electricity they produce. The price of the credits, ultimately financed by ratepayers, could collapse without a new mandate to build additional solar systems. That happened five years ago, drying up investment in the sector, leading to large layoffs of solar installers.

Rate counsel opposes

Rate Counsel Stefanie Brand opposed the new mandate, saying the costs of the bill will be very high in a letter to lawmakers. “Rate Counsel’s consultants have calculated that the changes to the RPS will bring ratepayers’ exposure for the SREC program to $6.764 billion between 2018 and 2033, an increase of $938 million over the law as it stands now,’’ Brand wrote.
Rawlings and others conceded the state needs long-term changes in the solar program to make it more cost-effective and sustainable. “The new governor is going to have a whole new approach on renewables,’’ he predicted.
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North Carolina must redraw GOP’s gerrymandered map

Gary D. Robertson reports for the Associated Press:


RALEIGH, N.C. — Federal judges ruled Tuesday that North Carolina’s congressional district map drawn by legislative Republicans is illegally gerrymandered because of excessive partisanship that gave GOP a
rock-solid advantage for most seats and must quickly
be redone.


The ruling marks the second time this decade that the GOP’s congressional boundaries in North Carolina have been thrown out by a three-judge panel.

In 2016, another panel tossed out two majority black congressional districts initially drawn in 2011, saying there was no justification for using race as the predominant factor in forming them. The redrawn map was the basis for a new round of lawsuits.


The latest lawsuit — filed by election advocacy groups and Democrats — said the replacement for the racial gerrymander also contained unlawful partisan gerrymanders. Those who sued argued that Republican legislators went too far when they followed criteria designed to retain the party’s 10-3 majority.


At the time of debate, according to the order, House redistricting chief Rep. David Lewis attempted to justify the criteria by saying “I think electing Republicans is better than electing Democrats. So I drew this map to help foster what I think is better for the country.”

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Trump-appointed regulators reject his coal, nuclear plan

Energy Secretary Rick Perry with VP Mike Pence in background



Steven Mufson reports for The Washington Post:


The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Monday unanimously rejected a proposal by Energy Secretary Rick Perry that would have propped up nuclear and coal power plants struggling in competitive electricity markets.


The independent five-member commission includes four people appointed by President Trump, three of them Republicans. Its decision is binding.


At the same time, the commission said that it shared Perry’s stated goal of strengthening the “resilience” of the electricity grid and directed regional transmission operators to provide information to help the commission examine the matter “holistically.” The operators have 60 days to submit materials. At that time, the agency can issue another order.


Perry’s proposal favored power plants able to store a 90-day fuel supply on site, unlike renewable energy or natural gas plants.


The plan, however, was widely seen as an effort to alter the balance of competitive electricity markets that federal regulators have been cultivating since the late 1980s. And critics said that it would have largely helped a handful of coal and nuclear companies, including the utility FirstEnergy and coal-mining firm Murray Energy, while raising rates for consumers.


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NJ energy/enviro bills passed hours before session closes

New Jersey State Assembly Chamber

The New Jersey Senate and Assembly raced to give final approval to hundreds of bills on Tuesday. The current legislative session will wraps up business on Wednesday.


Both houses will reorganize for a new, two-year session on the same day and then meet in a joint session to receive Gov. Chris Christie’s final State of the State address. Christie’s term expires on January 16.  

Among the bills that cleared the voting deadline, and were sent on to Governor Chris Christie for his approval or veto, were the following environment and energy measures: 


A-261  McKeon, J.F. (D-27); Spencer, L.G. (D-29);
Kennedy, J.J. (D-22)
Prohibits installation and sale of wheel weights
containing lead or mercury; prohibits sale of new motor vehicles equipped with
wheel weights containing lead or mercury.
     Jan 8, 2018     – Signed by the Governor: PL257


A-1954  Coughlin, C.J. (D-19); Benson, D.R. (D-14);
Spencer, L.G. (D-29)
Makes changes to funding provisions for financial
assistance and grants from Hazardous Discharge Site Remediation Fund.
    Jan 8, 2018     – Passed
by the Assembly (71-0)
    Jan 8, 2018     – Passed by both Houses (Sent to the Governor)

A-2082  Mukherji, R. (D-33); Pintor Marin, E. (D-29)
Requires OAL to maintain Internet database summarizing all State rule-making actions.
     Jan 8, 2018     – Signed by the Governor: PL262

A-3295  McKeon, J.F. (D-27); Benson, D.R. (D-14);
Kennedy, J.J. (D-22)
Concerns low emission and zero emission vehicles;
establishes Clean Vehicle Task Force.
     Jan 8, 2018     – Passed by the Assembly
(50-17)
     Jan 8, 2018     – Passed by both Houses
(Sent to the Governor)

S-848  Stack, B.P. (D-33); Oroho, S.V. (R-24)
Requires certain State oversight of budgets of regional
sewerage authorities.
     Jan 8, 2018     – Passed by the Assembly
(50-12)
     Jan 8, 2018     – Passed by both Houses
(Sent to the Governor)

S-1986  Cruz-Perez, N. (D-5); Cunningham, S.B.
(D-31); Eustace, T. (D-38)
Establishes “Milkweed for Monarchs” program.
     Jan 8, 2018     – Signed by the Governor:
PL252 

S-2276  Smith, B. (D-17); Bateman, C. (R-16);
DeAngelo, W.P. (D-14)
Modifies State’s solar renewable energy portfolio
standards.
     Jan 8, 2018     – Passed by the Senate
(26-8)
     Jan 8, 2018     – Passed by both Houses
(Sent to the Governor) 

S-2389  Bucco, A.M. (R-25); Oroho, S.V. (R-24)
Establishes Lake Hopatcong Fund and dedicates $500,000
annually from certain power vessel operator license fees to the fund.
     Jan 8, 2018     – Passed by the Assembly
(68-0)
     Jan 8, 2018     – Passed by both Houses
(Sent to the Governor)

S-2872  Pou, N. (D-35); Bell, C. (D-2); Van Drew, J.
(D-1)
Provides certain incentives to qualified businesses in
Garden State Growth Zones; creates Garden State Growth Zone at Atlantic City
International Airport and surrounding area.
     Jan 8, 2018     – Passed by the Assembly
(64-5)
     Jan 8, 2018     – Passed by both Houses
(Sent to the Governor) 

A-4540  Muoio, E.M. (D-15); Eustace, T. (D-38);
Kennedy, J.J. (D-22) 
Requires municipal land use plan element of master plan
to address smart growth, storm resiliency, and environmental sustainability
issues.
     Jan 8, 2018     – Signed by the Governor:
PL275 

A-4786  Taliaferro, A.J. (D-3); Mazzeo, V. (D-2);
Pintor Marin, E. (D-29)
Streamlines authorization for farmers market programs
to participate in WIC and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
     Jan 8, 2018     – Signed by the Governor:
PL278

A-4787  Andrzejczak, B. (D-1); Houghtaling, E.
(D-11)
Authorizes alternate members for farmers on State
Agriculture Development Committee.
      Jan 8, 2018     – Passed by the Senate
(35-0)
     Jan 8, 2018     – Received in Assembly
without reference
     Jan 8, 2018     – 2nd reading Assembly, concurrence w/amendments
     Jan 8, 2018     – Passed by the Assembly
(66-0)
     Jan 8, 2018     – Passed by both Houses
(Sent to the Governor)

A-4814  Rooney, K.J. (R-40); Johnson, G.M. (D-37);
Schaer, G.S. (D-36) 
Prohibits investment of pension and annuity funds by
State in entities that avoid Superfund obligations to State.
     Jan 8, 2018     – Passed by the Assembly
(69-0)
     Jan 8, 2018     – Received in the Senate
without reference
     Jan 8, 2018     – 2nd reading in Senate
     Jan 8, 2018     – Substituted for another
bill: S3487
     Jan 8, 2018     – Passed by the Senate
(33-0)
     Jan 8, 2018     – Passed by both Houses
(Sent to the Governor)

A-4846  Houghtaling, E. (D-11); Taliaferro, A.J.
(D-3)
Revises and expands laws on trespass and vandalism on
agricultural/horticultural lands.
     Jan 8, 2018     – Passed by the Senate
(36-0)
     Jan 8, 2018     – Received in Assembly
without reference
     Jan 8, 2018     – 2nd reading Assembly concurrence w/amendments
     Jan 8, 2018     – Passed by the Assembly
(67-0)
     Jan 8, 2018     – Passed by both Houses
(Sent to the Governor)  

S-3521  Gordon, R.M. (D-38); Oroho, S.V. (R-24)
Allows expanded use of recycled asphalt pavement.
Related Bill: A-5194
     Jan 8, 2018     – Passed by the Assembly
(70-0)
     Jan 8, 2018     – Passed by both Houses
(Sent to the Governor)

S-3538  Greenstein, L.R. (D-14); Codey, R.J. (D-27)
Amends list of environmental infrastructure projects
approved for long-term funding for Fiscal Year 2018 to include new projects and revise
allowable loan amounts for already approved projects.
     Jan 8, 2018     – Passed by the Assembly
(68-0)
     Jan 8, 2018     – Passed by both Houses
(Sent to the Governor)

S-3539  Smith, B. (D-17); Codey, R.J. (D-27)
Authorizes NJ Environmental Infrastructure Trust to
expend additional sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects
for FY2018; allocates funds from Local Aid Infrastructure Fund for operating
and administrative expenses for transportation
     Jan 8, 2018     – Passed by the Assembly
(66-0)
     Jan 8, 2018     – Received by the Senate
     Jan 8, 2018     – 2nd reading Senate
to concur w/amendments
     Jan 8, 2018     – Passed by the Senate
(37-0)
     Jan 8, 2018     – Passed by both Houses
(Sent to the Governor)

SCR-163  Smith, B. (D-17); Bateman, C. (R-16);
Greenstein, L.R. (D-14)
Invalidates certain DEP rules and regulations
concerning septic system density standards in Highlands Water Protection and
Planning Act Rules.
     Jan 8, 2018     – Passed by the Senate
(21-16)
     Jan 8, 2018     – Received in Assembly
without reference
     Jan 8, 2018     – 2nd reading in Assembly
     Jan 8, 2018     – Substituted for another
bill: ACR255
     Jan 8, 2018     – Passed by the Assembly
(41-25)


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Report: Big $ needed to plug aging, leaky water pipes in NJ

A water main break repair in Montclair. Photo by Ricardo Kaulessar, NorthJersey.com



James M. O’Neil reports for The Record:


A state task force was poised to approve a report Monday outlining the dire condition of New Jersey’s aging drinking water infrastructure and recommendations to legislators for fixing the problem.


The report urges the legislature create a new grant program, financed by $400 million in bonds, to begin urgent upgrades to the state’s complex patchwork of drinking water systems, especially smaller systems and those in economically distressed communities.


Editor: As if on cue,

  • Atlantic City facing ‘unprecedented’ 12 water main
    breaks     The Municipal
    Utilities Authority was facing a record number of water main breaks Friday but
    was managing to keep the water on for customers, Executive Director G. Bruce
    Ward said     Atlantic
    City Press


“New Jersey is facing a hidden infrastructure crisis underneath its streets in the pipes that transport its water,” the report argues. “Much of this infrastructure has aged past its useful life and is breaking down due to decades of under-investment.


“Failure to replace them will result in an unreliable supply of safe drinking water, increased service interruptions, more frequent and costly emergency repairs” and “insufficient water flow and pressure.”


The problem could be exacerbated as continued development, combined with more numerous droughts from climate change, push up water demands.


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