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Interior Secretary to discuss NJ’s offshore energy


Interior Secretary Ken Salazar is coming to Atlantic City Monday to discuss the future of offshore energy. He says he wants to know what you think, too.

It will be the Obama Administration official’s first stop on a tour of public meetings to be followed by sessions in New Orleans, Anchorage and San Francisco.

Salazar will present information from a U.S. Geological Survey-Minerals Management Service Report and will solicit public comment.

At a recent meeting, Salazar said the report on Outer Continental Shelf energy resources found huge information gaps about the location and extent of offshore oil and gas resources.

“Along the Atlantic Coast, for example, the seismic data we have is twenty-five years old,” he said. “How should we gather the information we currently lack about our offshore oil and gas resources? How do we manage the costs of gathering seismic data? Are there areas on the OCS that should be of priority for information collection?”

Can you guess from those questions how the Obama Administration hopes to frame the “discussion” that proceeds from the meeting in Atlantic City and other cities?

I’m not sure but, if I were an executive at ExxonMobil, I think I’d be a bit concerned.

No doubt some will argue on Monday that we should be moving quickly to exploit offshore concentrations of oil and natural gas to lessen dependence on foreign suppliers.

Others will contend that the nation needs to shift its investment focus to the development of offshore wind farms for a sustainable supply of electric power to serve coastal areas which contain the largest population centers.

The latter is the preference of most (but not all) environmental organizations –and, of course, the wind-power industry.

New Jersey’s major environmental lobbies–Environment New Jersey, the Sierra Club, and New Jersey Environmental Federation—joined today with two of the firms hoping to develop wind power projects off the Jersey coast —Blue Water Wind and Fishermen’s Energy–in a media release urging the public to attend the day-long hearing (9 a.m to 8 p.m.) at Atlantic City Convention Center.

“President Obama’s offshore energy decisions will be with us for decades to come,” said Matt Elliott of Environment New Jersey. “We urge New Jersey residents to attend this hearing to speak out against dirty, dangerous offshore oil drilling, and in favor of clean, renewable energy such as offshore wind, wave, and tidal power.”

No doubt where they’re coming from.

We haven’t seen a press release yet from the New Jersey Petroleum Council (API) but I don’t think the folks there will have much time to play the casino slots on Monday.

Too much at stake here for both sides. Should be interesting.

What’s your take? Use the comment block below. If it doesn’t appear, click on the tiny ‘comments’ link.

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Proposed NJ electric power line prompts PR clash

New Jersey’s largest power company, PSE&G, is embroiled in a growing public relations battle with environmental groups and some local government leaders over the proposed Susquehanna-Roseland high-power transmission line which the company wants to erect between the Delaware Water Gap in Warren County and the town of Roseland in Essex County.

For months, both sides have been fighting to win public and government support for their respective positions, for and against the construction. PSE&G contends the lines are necessary to address deteriorating infrastructure and the region’s growing energy demands. Opponents say the project would harm the environment and import “”dirty” electricity from coal-fired power plants in Pennsylvania and other western states.

The combatants have clashed on the classic PR battlegrounds –in newspaper stories covering the controversy, in media events staged by opponents, in press releases, and in letters to the editor.

On Jan, 15, PSE&G opened a new PR front, with a paid advertorial Caution: Blackouts Ahead… which appeared on the opinion page of the state’s largest daily newspaper, the (Newark) Star-Ledger. The piece summoned up a bleak picture of 1926-era power lines “staining to carry voltage” which, according to an industry expert, could “break and fall to the ground causing a potentially dangerous situation…” not to mention “permanent damage to transmission infrastructure and catastrophic power outages.”

An opponent group, Stop The Lines, fired back two days later, using the same newspaper’s free, public blog section, NJ Voices. The opponents contended that the PSE&G piece was ” deceptive, fear-mongering, and baseless.”

On Jan 12, PSE&G formally applied to the state Board of Public Utilities (BPU) for permission to build the 45-mile, $650 million line. That immediately triggered protests from environmentalists who claimed the petition was an attempt by PSE&G to circumvent the process of seeking local approvals in each of the 15 towns affected by the project.

In addition to making its case before the BPU, the power company apparently also must win the approval of the state’s Highlands Council which controls development in all environmentally sensitive areas of the New Jersey’s northwest, including the power line’s proposed pathway.

Getting the BPU to rule on the proposal could take up to a year, according to some estimates.

That virtually guarantees a lot more coalition-building, news conferences, press releases, paid adversorials, opinion poll contentions and op-ed submissions from both sides.

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Week’s top New Jersey environmental news – November 24-28, 2008

Below are just a few of the environmental news stories for New Jersey appearing in EnviroPolitics during the week of November
24-28, 2008

New Jersey Environmental News

A net gain for the birds Just as New Jersey Turnpike rest stops provide respite for people during trips along the East Coast, dormant landfills in the NJ Meadowlands play an equally crucial role for migrating birds, new research indicates Bergen Record“


Rivers too cold for dolphins? The water in the Navesink and
Shrewsbury rivers is too cold for the dozen bottlenose dolphins that have resided there since June, says a marine mammal advocate AP Press

N.J.’s agriculture secretary leaving amid discord Budget pressure, coupled with controversy over a law that limits the land-development rights of North Jersey farmers, became so intense that some members of the state Agriculture Board demanded that State Agriculture Secretary Charles Kuperus resign. Last month, Kuperus agreed and will leave at year’s end Inquirer

Renewable energy hits a snag Despite their penchant for saving money in the long run, renewable energy projects may face a slump during the economic downturn because of their high upfront costs Bergen Record

Editorial: A better way to clean up old industrial sites New Jersey is notorious for the sky-high number of former industrial sites that dot and dirty its commercial landscape, especially in the cities Courier News

A dream deferred in Galloway Ralph Pappas can finally move into his dream house. A state Appellate Court ruling marks the end of a 17-year fight between Pappas and the state Pinelands Commission AC Press


For Garden State, going green seen as a natural From a dealer selling 100-percent electric, zero emissions, low-speed vehicles, to manufactures of eco-friendly office furniture, to PSE&G promoting green energy programs, more green vendors than ever are trying to sell to municipal officials Bergen Record

Editorial: Shady path to a park? Overpeck County Park will be a great asset to the Meadowlands area. But, with its mob connections and sketchy oversight, will it be healthy? B. Record


Falling value shatters glass recycling
As prices for recycled glass fell and the
cost of fuel for transporting it increased,
it has started to cost more to move recycled
glass than it is worth Story

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Week’s top New Jersey environmental news – November 24-28, 2008 Read More »

Jersey enviros look to topple power line proposal

Like fellow-activists in New York state (Catskill Mountainkeeper rallying opposition to NYRI power line), New Jersey environmental organizations have come out swinging against a proposed high-power line through a section of the state’s northern tier.

The state’s largest power utility, PSE&G, is expected to asked the state Board of Public Utilities to approve the 45-mile, 500-kilovolt power line that the company wants to build at a cost of $650 million. It would run from the town of Hardwick in Warren County, through Sussex and Morris counties to Roseland in Essex County.

PSE&G says the line is necessary to prevent overloads and blackouts on the power grid.

“No one disputes that North Jersey’s electricity highways are congested and need relief to avoid price spikes and blackouts in the future. But New Jersey’s energy future should not be tied to dirty coal plants in Ohio and Pennsylvania, when home grown renewable energy and energy efficiency can provide the solution,” said Dena Mottola Jaborska, the executive director of Environment New Jersey, at a media event held with regional municipal leaders yesterday in Montville, Morris County.

“We cannot support or oppose this project without answers to our concerns,” stated Byram Township councilman Scott Olson, speaking on behalf of six municipalities who have formed a coalition to address this proposal.

“We do not feel that PSE&G has shown a proven need for this expansion, or that all other options have been exhausted and this is the only viable alternative to address their needs. And they have yet to prove the potential for health effects are lessened or that the economic impact to our municipalities and our residents will be addressed,” Olson said.

Feel free to add your opinion by clicking on the “comments” line below.

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NJ enviro group ready to rip LNG plans

Clean Ocean Action (COA), a New Jersey shore environmental group that had big success years ago in curbing waste dumping off the coast, is focusing its attention on plans by three separate developers who want to install liquefied natural gas facilities off the coast.

Several other state environmental groups say they are studying the issue with an open mind, recognizing the short-term need for new energy supplies in the expanding northeast market while alternative energy sources are being developed. They haven’t immediately opposed the LNG idea since natural gas is a cleaner-burning fuel than oil or coal.

COA has scheduled a news conference tomorrow in Trenton to unveil a study entitled: “LNG: An Un-American Energy Source, Liquefied Natural Gas: An Expensive, Dirty, Foreign Fossil Fuel that Threatens Our Natural Gas Energy Independence.”

Sounds like COA folks have made up their mind, doesn’t it?

Share your thoughts on the LNG plans by clicking below on the comment line.

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Inspect me, Jersey DEP, please!

Until now, the sudden appearance of a DEP inspector on your business doorstep was about as welcome as a social disease. But now, at least for some in New Jersey, that’s about to change in a radically welcome way.

Long known for its strict (some might prefer the term ‘aggressive’?) enforcement tactics, the state Department of Environmental Protection is adopting a kinder and gentler approach when its inspectors, failing to find violations, actually encounter businesses making an extra effort to be good environmental citizens.

“The concept of an environmental cop on the beat has always been strong in New Jersey,” says DEP Commissioner Lisa Jackson. “What is also strong is the spirit of innovation at the DEP. We are leading the country again, this time by defining and measuring the incredible amount of environmental good that exists in our state.”

How are they planning to do this?

The Department is implementing an Environmental Stewardship Program to publicly recognize businesses that go beyond minimum environmental requirements. The goal, they say, is to encourage all businesses to evaluate their current facility operations and integrate stewardship initiatives into their operations.

In other words, the carrot instead of the stick.

How will DEP inspectors go about the job? The following is directly from a DEP news release:

“The companies will be asked, among other things, whether they have broadly adopted stewardship activities, whether they have a comprehensive written environmental policy, whether they operate under an Environmental Management System designed to reduce environmental impacts, and whether they publish an annual environmental report. The companies also will be asked whether they have documented their greenhouse gas emissions, whether they employ environmentally friendly purchasing policies, whether they operate certified green buildings, and whether they have employee trip reduction programs.The inspector may review certain documents, processes and operating procedures to verify stewardship activities.”

Does that sound just a tad bureaucratic to you? Maybe, but remember, this is state government we’re talking about. At least they’re trying. And besides, how would you like to be the DEP supervisor who explains the new program to Inspector Callahan?

For more, here’s DEP’s news release and a link to its Stewardship program.

Inspect me, Jersey DEP, please! Read More »

Week’s top environmental & political news


Some of the top stories appearing in EnviroPolitics from Aug 27-31. Captured from newspapers and other information sources in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York and beyond.

New Jersey Environment

DEP orders work to stop on strip mall planned for Highlands In one of the first enforcement cases of the Highlands statute, a notice of violation has been issued to the developer of the proposed Liberty Square mall in Independence Township, Warren County. Developer Liberty Square 517 LLC missed an Aug. 10 deadline to build a foundation on the project in the strict Highlands preservation area, and a cease-and-desist order has been issued by the state Department of Environmental Protection, officials said. (Star-Ledger)

Sparta approves $2.1M for reservoir Despite the prospect of a lawsuit, the Sparta Township Council has adopted a $2.1 million bond ordinance to buy nearly one-third of a quarry founded by Thomas Edison that contains a vast spring-fed reservoir. (Star-Ledger)

Smoke at chemical fire sends 15 to hospital A small chemical fire broke out Tuesday at the Permacel Inc. building in the Industrial Park, forcing several people to the hospital with respiratory problems. About 60 employees of the plant at 1990 Rutgers University Blvd. and workers in the surrounding complexes were evacuated about 10:15 a.m. as firefighters spent about 20 minutes putting out the blaze, authorities said (Asbury Park Press)

Sayreville told about Superfund cleanups Twenty-five years ago, an abundance of toxic chemicals was found buried beneath the Sayreville landfill, seeping into the soil and poisoning the groundwater with pesticides. In the years that followed, state officials began a gradual cleanup of the site, removing drums of hazardous waste and installing systems to block the pollution from spreading. On Wednesday, representatives from the state Department of Environmental Protection told a room of Sayreville residents their work on the landfill is nearly done. (Star-Ledger)

Somerset parks employees repay county $1,697 Somerset County parks employees have reimbursed the park commission for several expenses criticized as unrelated to their jobs, but most were legitimate or judgment calls, county officials said last night.After reviewing expense vouchers cited as “questionable” by an outside law firm, county Treasurer Brian Newman said there were no clear prohibitions against some of the payments (Star-Ledger)

Proposed power plant switching from coal to natural gas LS Power Company plans to put its Delaware River power plant online four years sooner than anticipated now that it proposes to use natural gas rather than coal to fuel the operation. (Courier-Post)

Eagles and hawks are migrating south The autumn hawk-watching season takes off Saturday as thousands of raptors begin their annual southern migration. Bergen County’s prime viewing spot is in Alpine, where broad-winged hawks and bald eagles can be seen flying down the Hudson River. The viewing area, the State Line Lookout, is just off Exit 3 of the Palisades Interstate Parkway (Bergen Record)

Clean Water New Jersey to honor excellence in stormwater pollution control Polluted runoff is a major threat to New Jersey’s water quality, and municipalities and other government agencies that have excelled in managing it are now eligible for special Clean Water New Jersey awards (NJ-DEP)

New Jersey Politics

Democrats seek to unload contributions from fugitive Some top New Jersey Democrats scramble to divest themselves of at least $51,000 in campaign contributions from a donor whose fugitive status also caused embarrassment this week for presidential candidate Hillary Clinton (Star-Ledger)

Nursing home fixing the AC after a roasting from Codey A Newark nursing home where state Sen. Richard Codey found sweltering conditions during a surprise inspection earlier this month will replace its sputtering air conditioners (Star-Ledger)

Ex-mayor gets harsh term in graft case For nearly five years after pleading guilty to corruption charges, former Ocean Township Mayor Terrance Weldon remained a free man by quietly cooperating with investigations against others. But when his day of reckoning came yesterday, Weldon caught the wrath of a federal judge fed up with the seemingly endless parade of New Jersey politicians “hell-bent on corruption.” For nearly five years after pleading guilty to corruption charges, former Ocean Township Mayor Terrance Weldon remained a free man by quietly cooperating with investigations against others. But when his day of reckoning came yesterday, Weldon caught the wrath of a federal judge fed up with the seemingly endless parade of New Jersey politicians “hell-bent on corruption.” (Star-Ledger)Could it be Lautenberg vs. Booker? With Democrats Rob Andrews, Frank Pallone and Steve Rothman unwilling to mount a primary challenge against the 83-year-old incumbent, could Booker be the guy who runs Wally Edge Blog

Wesley Lance dies, shaped constitution Former Republican state Sen. Wesley L. Lance of Hunterdon County, the last survivor of the 81 delegates to the historic NJ Constitutional Convention of 1947 that created the state’s modern constitution, died Saturday. He was 98. (Star-Ledger)

Pennsylvania Environment

DEP fines Hercules Cement The Department of Environmental Protection announced today it has issued a $174,604 civil penalty against Hercules Cement Company in Stockertown Borough, Northampton County, for air quality violations between 2003 and 2006 (PA-DEP)

PPL Gas Utilities Announces Decrease in Gas Supply Rate PPL Gas Utilities’ 76,000 customers will see a decrease in their bills this fall. The company announced Friday (8/31) a3 percent reduction in the rate customers pay for the gas supply portion of their bill. (PPL)

Hundreds protest wind turbines — Accusations flew and tempers flared Tuesday as hundreds of residents in Bedford and Somerset counties ordered Gamesa Energy to keepwind turbines off Shaffer Mountain. (Altoona Mirror)

Cleaning up coal’s bad rap Is coal becoming a dirty word? It’s vilified as a contributor to global warming, risky to get out of the earth — as recent deaths in a Utah coal mine have reminded us — and responsible for destroying streams and valleys in Appalachia, where mountaintop removal mining remains extremely controversial. Meanwhile, pressure from environmental groups worried about climate change has forced utilities from North Carolina to Oregon to drop plans for about two dozen coal-fired power plants. NRG Energy CEO David Crane says that ‘clean coal’ has a future, despite what critics say. NRG Energy is looking to build the country’s first big coal plant to capture and store carbon dioxide.

Pennsylvania Politics

Democratic offices searched in Harrisburg State investigators last week executed a search warrant on the Capitol basement headquarters of the Democratic Office of Legislative Research in a broadening investigation into whether state employees were used to run several political campaigns last year. (Post-Gazette)

Judge: Fumo can keep Sprague as lawyer A federal judge ruled today that State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo, who faces 139 charges of federal fraud and obstruction of justice, can keep Richard A. Sprague as his lawyer. The decision means the scheduled trial of one of Pennsylvania’s most powerful politicians, who had been represented by one of Philadelphia’s most prominent lawyers, is likely to proceed as scheduled for February. (Inquirer)

Future of Pa. six-pack sales is now a case for justices The state Supreme Court has agreed to decide whether Pennsylvanians will be able to walk into their local grocery or corner store and pick up a six-pack of beer along with toilet paper and a carton of milk (Inquirer)

New York/Region/World

California aims to save fish via poison The state’s latest plan to rid Lake Davis of northern pike – and protect species downstream – raises concern.(Christian Science Monitor)

Sony Develops Bio-Battery Powered by Glucose Sony’s new bio-battery that uses the sugar in carbohydrates to generate electricity — as an example, the company demonstrated using a sports drink to power a small fan or a Walkman. (GreenBiz.com)

German Biodiesel Industry Peaks, Trouble Ahead Germany’s biodiesel production capacity is set to rise to a record 5 million tons in 2007, but analysts have warned that the boom in the country’s biodiesel industry is coming to an end after the industry failed to block the government from rolling back a key tax relief scheme in court this July. (Renewable Energy Weekly)

Week’s top environmental & political news Read More »

Week’s top environmental & political news

Some of the top stories appearing in EnviroPolitics from Aug 20-24. Captured from newspapers and other information sources in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York and beyond.
New Jersey Environment

The cost to NJ if nuclear reactor is retired Retiring the Oyster Creek nuclear power plant in Lacey would cost NJ more than $300M a year in higher electricity prices and lost economic activity, says a report funded by the plant’s parent AP Press

Wastewater plant fined $30,000 The government agency that operates Bergen County’s wastewater treatment system is fined for emitting more sulfur that permitted Bergen Record

Codey wants a say on NYC traffic fee Senate President calls on New York City officials to add NJ representatives to a newly formed commission that will study a plan to charge motorists fees to enter parts of Manhattan Bergen Record Star-Ledger

NJ moves to head of Marcal claim line In its effort to emerge from bankruptcy protection, Marcal Paper Mills struck a deal last month with federal environmental officials regarding the manufacturer’s responsibility to help clean up the polluted lower Passaic River. Now, it’s time to deal with the state Star-Ledger

Water rules in the works The public comment period has closed and state officials are moving forward with the expansion of water protection rules that would likely curb development. If adopted, the change would limit where sewer and septic systems are placed and expand the number of streams that require 300-foot buffers from development. Express-Times

New Jersey Politics

Torricelli using campaign funds to lobby When he was last running for the U.S. Senate from New Jersey in 2002, Robert G. Torricelli collected donations from thousands of people who apparently wanted to see him re-elected. They might be surprised to see how he spenta portion of their money—on politicians with an influence over Mr. Torricelli’s, or his clients’, business interests New York Times

Battle looms on stadium expansion Rutgers is raising tuition and cutting other sports programs but wants to cash in on football team’s popularity with a $116 million stadium expansion Star-Ledger
> Editorial: Football uber alles? Bergen Record

James: I cannot pay my attorneys Federal prosecutors have accused former Newark Mayor Sharpe James of bilking the city to subsidize a lavish lifestyle, including trips to Martha’s Vineyard when he allegedly shipped his Rolls-Royce along at taxpayers’ expense. Now James claims he doesn’t have the cash to pay a law firm representing him to fight those charges Star-Ledger

Ex-commerce official: Family woes inspired corrupt acts Devereaux apologizes for “really bad judgment” in finding state work for her relatives and conducting her law practice on state time, but says she never intended to commit a crime Star-Ledger

Two of Newark’s triple-slay suspects caught In series of raids, task force catches up to brothers near Washington, planning to escape to El Salvador Star-Ledger NY Times
> ‘How did you catch me?’ Hard work and MySpace Star-Ledger

Pennsylvania Environment

Ethanol plant in the works Northeast Ethanol is evaluating four sites in northeast PA for construction of a plant, including a 100-acre property in Mayfield owned by Carrier Coal Enterprises Times-Tribune

DEP leans toward auto club permit; neighbors fear pollution PA regulators are leaning toward approval of a permit for a four-mile high speed driving course on 360 wooded acres at the foot of Blue Mountain Inquirer

Fines a possibility in fish-kill spill DEP says Aug. 10 spill from a meat rendering plant in Franconia that killed 10,000 small fish in a mile-long stretch of the Skippack Creek is “ripe” for a penalty The Reporter

Its bats and birds versus energy blades The Pennsylvania Biological Survey has gone to bat for the bats in a swirling policy debate over whether commercial wind power development should be permitted in state forests Post-Gazette

High tension Proposed power line through region sparks concerns. Imagine a new interstate highway, six to eight lanes wide, slicing across the landscape of Northeastern Pennsylvania Times Tribune

Pennsylvania Politics

Taxpayers poised to pay $2 billion for pensions Legislature let state, school boards shortchange funds by not contributing enough Morning Call

Lawmakers blast PHEAA bonuses “The interests of struggling students are once again overshadowed by the interests of those who occupy PHEAA’s executive suite,” says governor’s spokesperson Patriot News

Foxwoods casino advances, under fire, in Philadelphia To shouts of “Shame!” and “The people want a say!” from more than 100 onlookers, the City Planning Commission votes unanimously to give the go-ahead to the Foxwoods riverfront casino in South Philadelphia Inquirer

Indicted judge won’t seek retention Michael Joyce was indicted last week on nine counts of money laundering and mail fraud related to two insurance claims he filed after a 2001 car accident Post-Gazette

New York/Nation/World

GOP consultant resigns amid ‘phone’ uproar Roger Stone Jr., accused of threatening Gov. Spitzer’s father, quits campaign job with the Senate GOP, claiming he is the victim of a “dirty trick” by gubernatorial aides “capable of wire tapping” Newsday

Con Ed: Echo Bay cleanup is finally done Twenty-six years after a transformer fire spilled oil laden with a suspected carcinogen near Echo Bay, Consolidated Edison says it has finished its cleanup of the 2.6-acre site Journal News

LIPA chief kills wind farm project Long Island Power Authority chairman says he will “terminate” a controversial project to install 40 wind turbines off the coast of Jones Beach Newsday

Enviros decry talk of new Tappan bridge Bloomberg.com —————————————————————————
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Week’s top environmental & political news Read More »

Week’s top environmental & political news

Some of the top stories appearing in EnviroPolitics from Aug 27-31. Captured from newspapers and other information sources in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York and beyond.

New Jersey Environment

DEP orders work to stop on strip mall planned for Highlands In one of the first enforcement cases of the Highlands statute, a notice of violation has been issued to the developer of the proposed Liberty Square mall in Independence Township, Warren County. Developer Liberty Square 517 LLC missed an Aug. 10 deadline to build a foundation on the project in the strict Highlands preservation area, and a cease-and-desist order has been issued by the state Department of Environmental Protection, officials said. (Star-Ledger)
Sparta approves $2.1M for reservoir Despite the prospect of a lawsuit, the Sparta Township Council has adopted a $2.1 million bond ordinance to buy nearly one-third of a quarry founded by Thomas Edison that contains a vast spring-fed reservoir. (Star-Ledger) Smoke at chemical fire sends 15 to hospital A small chemical fire broke out Tuesday at the Permacel Inc. building in the Industrial Park, forcing several people to the hospital with respiratory problems. About 60 employees of the plant at 1990 Rutgers University Blvd. and workers in the surrounding complexes were evacuated about 10:15 a.m. as firefighters spent about 20 minutes putting out the blaze, authorities said (Asbury Park Press)Sayreville told about Superfund cleanups Twenty-five years ago, an abundance of toxic chemicals was found buried beneath the Sayreville landfill, seeping into the soil and poisoning the groundwater with pesticides. In the years that followed, state officials began a gradual cleanup of the site, removing drums of hazardous waste and installing systems to block the pollution from spreading. On Wednesday, representatives from the state Department of Environmental Protection told a room of Sayreville residents their work on the landfill is nearly done. (Star-Ledger)Somerset parks employees repay county $1,697 Somerset County parks employees have reimbursed the park commission for several expenses criticized as unrelated to their jobs, but most were legitimate or judgment calls, county officials said last night.
After reviewing expense vouchers cited as “questionable” by an outside law firm, county Treasurer Brian Newman said there were no clear prohibitions against some of the payments.

Proposed power plant switching from coal to natural gas LS Power Company plans to put its Delaware River power plant online four years sooner than anticipated now that it proposes to use natural gas rather than coal to fuel the operation. (Courier-Post)Eagles and hawks are migrating south The autumn hawk-watching season takes off Saturday as thousands of raptors begin their annual southern migration. Bergen County’s prime viewing spot is in Alpine, where broad-winged hawks and bald eagles can be seen flying down the Hudson River. The viewing area, the State Line Lookout, is just off Exit 3 of the Palisades Interstate Parkway (Bergen Record)Clean Water New Jersey to honor excellence in stormwater pollution control Polluted runoff is a major threat to New Jersey’s water quality, and municipalities and other government agencies that have excelled in managing it are now eligible for special Clean Water New Jersey awards (NJ-DEP)
New Jersey Politics

Democrats seek to unload contributions from fugitive Some top New Jersey Democrats scrambled yesterday to divest themselves of at least $51,000 in campaign contributions from a donor whose fugitive status also caused embarrassment this week for presidential candidate Hillary ClintonNursing home fixing the AC after a roasting from Codey A Newark nursing home where state Sen. Richard Codey found sweltering conditions during a surprise inspection earlier this month will replace its sputtering air conditioners (Star-Ledger)Ex-mayor gets harsh term in graft case For nearly five years after pleading guilty to corruption charges, former Ocean Township Mayor Terrance Weldon remained a free man by quietly cooperating with investigations against others. But when his day of reckoning came yesterday, Weldon caught the wrath of a federal judge fed up with the seemingly endless parade of New Jersey politicians “hell-bent on corruption.” For nearly five years after pleading guilty to corruption charges, former Ocean Township Mayor Terrance Weldon remained a free man by quietly cooperating with investigations against others. But when his day of reckoning came yesterday, Weldon caught the wrath of a federal judge fed up with the seemingly endless parade of New Jersey politicians “hell-bent on corruption.” (Star-Ledger)

Could it be Lautenberg vs. Booker? With Democrats Rob Andrews, Frank Pallone and Steve Rothman unwilling to mount a primary challenge against the 83-year-old incumbent, could Booker be the guy who runs Wally Edge BlogWesley Lance dies, shaped constitution Former Republican state Sen. Wesley L. Lance of Hunterdon County, the last survivor of the 81 delegates to the historic NJ Constitutional Convention of 1947 that created the state’s modern constitution, died Saturday. He was 98. (Star-Ledger)
Pennsylvania Environment

DEP fines Hercules Cement The Department of Environmental Protection announced today it has issued a $174,604 civil penalty against Hercules Cement Company in Stockertown Borough, Northampton County, for air quality violations between 2003 and 2006.

PPL Gas Utilities Announces Decrease in Gas Supply Rate PPL Gas Utilities’ 76,000 customers will see a decrease in their bills this fall. The company announced Friday (8/31) a
3 percent reduction in the rate customers pay for the gas supply portion of their bill. (PPL)

Hundreds protest wind turbines — Accusations flew and tempers flared Tuesday as hundreds of residents in Bedford and Somerset counties ordered Gamesa Energy to keep
wind turbines off Shaffer Mountain. (Altoona Mirror)

Cleaning up coal’s bad rap Is coal becoming a dirty word? It’s vilified as a contributor to global warming, risky to get out of the earth — as recent deaths in a Utah coal mine have reminded us — and responsible for destroying streams and valleys in Appalachia, where mountaintop removal mining remains extremely controversial. Meanwhile, pressure from environmental groups worried about climate change has forced utilities from North Carolina to Oregon to drop plans for about two dozen coal-fired power plants. NRG Energy CEO David Crane says that ‘clean coal’ has a future, despite what critics say. NRG Energy is looking to build the country’s first big coal plant to capture and store carbon dioxide.

Pennsylvania Politics

Democratic offices searched in Harrisburg State investigators last week executed a search warrant on the Capitol basement headquarters of the Democratic Office of Legislative Research in a broadening investigation into whether state employees were used to run several political campaigns last year. (Post-Gazette)

Judge: Fumo can keep Sprague as lawyer A federal judge ruled today that State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo, who faces 139 charges of federal fraud and obstruction of justice, can keep Richard A. Sprague as his lawyer. The decision means the scheduled trial of one of Pennsylvania’s most powerful politicians, who had been represented by one of Philadelphia’s most prominent lawyers, is likely to proceed as scheduled for February. (Inquirer)Future of Pa. six-pack sales is now a case for justices The state Supreme Court has agreed to decide whether Pennsylvanians will be able to walk into their local grocery or corner store and pick up a six-pack of beer along with toilet paper and a carton of milk.

New York/Region/World

California aims to save fish via poison The state’s latest plan to rid Lake Davis of northern pike – and protect species downstream – raises concern.(Christian Science Monitor)

Sony Develops Bio-Battery Powered by Glucose Sony’s new bio-battery that uses the sugar in carbohydrates to generate electricity — as an example, the company demonstrated using a sports drink to power a small fan or a Walkman. (GreenBiz.com)

German Biodiesel Industry Peaks, Trouble Ahead Germany’s biodiesel production capacity is set to rise to a record 5 million tons in 2007, but analysts have warned that the boom in the country’s biodiesel industry is coming to an end after the industry failed to block the government from rolling back a key tax relief scheme in court this July. (Renewable Energy Weekly)

Week’s top environmental & political news Read More »

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