New Legislative Session in NJ; Energy, Enviro-Bills Moving


The 217th session of the New Jersey Legislature is only several weeks old but close to 5,000 pieces of legislation (most recycled from the previous session) already have been introduced under new numbers and 30 energy and environment bills have been released
from committee.


Here’s the first batch out of the gate:

A-210  DeAngelo, W.P. (D-14); Gusciora, R. (D-15);
Benson, D.R. (D-14)
Concerns installation and maintenance of solar panels
in common interest communities.
     Nov 23, 2015  – Proposed for Assembly
introduction
     Jan 27, 2016    – Introduced in Assembly
     Jan 27, 2016    – Referred: Assembly
Telecommunications and Utilities
     Feb 4, 2016    – Reported by committee
     Feb 4, 2016    – 2nd reading in Assembly

A-436  Eustace, T. (D-38); Wimberly, B.E. (D-35);
Conaway, H. (D-7)
Requires natural gas pipeline utilities to repair or
replace leaking natural gas pipelines.
     Dec 3, 2015    – Proposed for Assembly introduction
     Jan 27, 2016    – Introduced in Assembly
     Jan 27, 2016    – Referred: Assembly
Telecommunications and Utilities
     Feb 4, 2016    – Reported by committee
     Feb 4, 2016    – 2nd reading in Assembly
A-780  Andrzejczak, R.B. (D-1); McKeon, J.F. (D-27);
Spencer, L.G. (D-29)
Implements 2014 constitutional dedication of CBT
revenues for certain environmental purposes; revises State’s open space,
farmland, and historic preservation programs.
     Jan 8, 2016     – Proposed for Assembly introduction
     Jan 27, 2016    – Introduced in Assembly
     Jan 27, 2016    – Referred: Assembly
Environment and Solid Waste
     Feb 8, 2016    – Reported by committee
     Feb 8, 2016    – Referred: Assembly
Appropriations
A-793  Andrzejczak, R.B. (D-1); Land, R.B. (D-1)
Requires Dept. of Agriculture and DEP to work with US
Army Corps of Engineers to establish joint permit application process for
aquaculture projects.
     Dec 18, 2015   – Proposed for Assembly
introduction
     Jan 27, 2016    – Introduced in Assembly
     Jan 27, 2016    – Referred: Assembly
Agriculture and Natural Resources
     Feb 8, 2016    – Reported by committee
     Feb 8, 2016    – 2nd reading in Assembly
A-794  Andrzejczak, R.B. (D-1); Land, R.B. (D-1)
Requires Dept. of Agriculture and DEP to adopt joint permit
application and review program for aquaculture projects.
     Dec 18, 2015   – Proposed for Assembly
introduction
     Jan 27, 2016    – Introduced in Assembly
     Jan 27, 2016    – Referred: Assembly
Agriculture and Natural Resources
     Feb 8, 2016    – Reported by committee
     Feb 8, 2016    – 2nd reading in Assembly
A-1108  Oliver, S.Y. (D-34); Coughlin, C.J. (D-19);
Caride, M. (D-36)
Requires corporations qualifying for certain State
development subsidy grants to repay entire grant amount if corporation fails to
uphold grant terms.
     Dec 30, 2015   – Proposed for Assembly
introduction
     Jan 27, 2016    – Introduced in Assembly
     Jan 27, 2016    – Referred: Assembly
Commerce and Economic Development
     Feb 4, 2016    – Reported by committee
     Feb 4, 2016    – Referred: Assembly
Appropriations
A-1649  Schaer, G.S. (D-36); Spencer, L.G. (D-29);
Pintor Marin, E. (D-29)
Requires local governments and authorities to obtain
financing cost estimate from NJ Environmental Infrastructure Trust for certain
projects.
     Jan 7, 2016     – Proposed for Assembly introduction
     Jan 27, 2016    – Introduced in Assembly
     Jan 27, 2016    – Referred: Assembly
Environment and Solid Waste
     Feb 8, 2016    – Reported with Assembly
committee amendments
     Feb 8, 2016    – 2nd reading in Assembly

 
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A-1672  Schaer, G.S. (D-36); DeAngelo, W.P. (D-14);
Quijano, A. (D-20)
Establishes “Neighborhood Solar Energy Investment
Program.”
     Jan 7, 2016     – Proposed for Assembly introduction
     Jan 27, 2016    – Introduced in Assembly
     Jan 27, 2016    – Referred: Assembly
Telecommunications and Utilities
     Feb 4, 2016    – Reported with Assembly
committee amendments
     Feb 4, 2016    – 2nd reading in Assembly
A-1899  Wisniewski, J.S. (D-19); Coughlin, C.J.
(D-19); Danielsen, J. (D-17)
Allows tax credits for development of qualified wind
energy facilities in certain portfield sites.
     Jan 7, 2016     – Proposed for Assembly introduction
     Jan 27, 2016    – Introduced in Assembly
     Jan 27, 2016    – Referred: Assembly
Telecommunications and Utilities
     Feb 4, 2016    – Reported with Assembly
committee amendments
     Feb 4, 2016    – Referred: Assembly
Appropriations
A-2220  Benson, D.R. (D-14)
Authorizes local units of government subject to
“Local Public Contracts Law.” and “Public School Contracts
Law” to use electronic procurement technologies.
     Jan 12, 2016    – Proposed for Assembly
introduction
     Jan 27, 2016    – Introduced in Assembly
     Jan 27, 2016    – Referred: Assembly State
and Local Government
     Feb 8, 2016    – Reported by committee
     Feb 8, 2016    – 2nd reading in Assembly
A-2242  DeAngelo, W.P. (D-14)
“Vegetation Management Response Act”;
concerns vegetation management related to electric public utility
infrastructure.
     Jan 12, 2016    – Proposed for Assembly
introduction
     Jan 27, 2016    – Introduced in Assembly
     Jan 27, 2016    – Referred: Telecommunications and Utilities

     Feb 4, 2016    – Posted but held: Telecommunications and Utilities 


A-2375  McKeon, J.F. (D-27); Gusciora, R. (D-15)
Revises “Electronic Waste Management Act.”
Related Bill: S-981
     Jan 27, 2016    – Proposed for Assembly
introduction
     Feb 4, 2016    – Introduced in Assembly
     Feb 4, 2016    – Referred: Assembly
Environment and Solid Waste
     Feb 8, 2016    – Reported by committee
     Feb 8, 2016    – 2nd reading in Assembly


A-2404  McKeon, J.F. (D-27)
Requires, after study, DEP to adopt total maximum daily
loads for Barnegat Bay ecosystem, and requires DEP to adopt nutrient standards
for NJ marine waters.
Related Bill: S-765
     Jan 27, 2016    – Proposed for Assembly
introduction
     Feb 4, 2016    – Introduced in Assembly
     Feb 4, 2016    – Referred: Assembly
Environment and Solid Waste
     Feb 8, 2016    – Reported with Assembly
committee amendments

     Feb 8, 2016    – Referred: Assembly
Appropriations

A-2547  Singleton, T. (D-7); Conaway, H. (D-7);
DeAngelo, W.P. (D-14); Benson, D.R. (D-14); Muoio, E.M. (D-15); Houghtaling, E.
(D-11)
Permits small businesses to qualify for loans from
NJEDA for costs of energy audit and making energy efficiency or conservation
improvements.
     Jan 27, 2016    – Proposed for Assembly
introduction
     Feb 4, 2016    – Introduced in Assembly
     Feb 4, 2016    – Referred: Assembly
Commerce and Economic Development
     Feb 4, 2016    – Reported by committee
     Feb 4, 2016    – Referred: Assembly
Appropriations

AJR-24  Andrzejczak, R.B. (D-1)
Declares aquaculture an important State economic driver
and urges State to include aquaculture industry in its economic development plans.
     Dec 18, 2015   – Proposed for Assembly
introduction
     Jan 27, 2016    – Introduced in Assembly
     Jan 27, 2016    – Referred: Assembly
Agriculture and Natural Resources
     Feb 8, 2016    – Reported by committee
     Feb 8, 2016    – 2nd reading in Assembly

IN THE SENATE

S-122  Pennacchio, J. (R-26); Codey, R.J. (D-27)
Establishes home elevation fund and dedicates up to $5
million of realty transfer fee revenue annually for this purpose.
Related Bill: A-2941
     Jan 12, 2016    – Introduced in Senate
     Jan 12, 2016    – Referred: Senate
Environment and Energy
     Feb 4, 2016    – Reported by committee
     Feb 4, 2016    – 2nd reading in Senate
     Feb 8, 2016    – Referred: Senate Budget
and Appropriations
S-482  Oroho, S.V. (R-24); Stack, B.P. (D-33)
Directs State agencies to take certain actions to
expedite permitting through use of general permits and permits-by-rule.
     Jan 12, 2016    – Introduced in Senate
     Jan 12, 2016    – Referred: State
Govt., Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation
     Feb 8, 2016    – Reported with Senate
committee amendments
     Feb 8, 2016    – 2nd reading in Senate
     Feb 8, 2016    – Referred: Senate Budget
and Appropriations
S-765  Smith, B. (D-17); Bateman, C. (R-16)
Requires, after study, DEP to adopt total maximum daily
loads for Barnegat Bay ecosystem, and requires DEP to adopt nutrient standards
for NJ marine waters.
Related Bill: A-2404
     Jan 12, 2016    – Introduced in Senate
     Jan 12, 2016    – Referred: Senate
Environment and Energy
     Jan 25, 2016    – Posted: Senate Environment
and Energy
     Jan 25, 2016    – Reported Sca (wo/quorum)
     Feb 4, 2016    – Reported with Senate
committee amendments
     Feb 4, 2016    – 2nd reading in Senate
     Feb 8, 2016    – Referred: Senate Budget
and Appropriations
S-766  Smith, B. (D-17); Greenstein, L.R. (D-14)
Creates Office of Clean Energy in BPU.
Related Bill: A-2445
     Jan 12, 2016    – Introduced in Senate
     Jan 12, 2016    – Referred: Senate
Environment and Energy
     Jan 25, 2016    – Posted: Senate Environment
and Energy
     Jan 25, 2016    – Reported by committee
(wo/quorum)
     Feb 4, 2016    – Reported by committee
     Feb 4, 2016    – 2nd reading in Senate
     Feb 8, 2016    – Referred: Senate Budget
and Appropriations
S-769  Smith, B. (D-17); Greenstein, L.R. (D-14)
Requires environmental sustainability plan for State
House Complex.
Related Bill: A-2922
     Jan 12, 2016    – Introduced in Senate
     Jan 12, 2016    – Referred: Senate
Environment and Energy
     Jan 25, 2016    – Posted: Senate Environment
and Energy
     Jan 25, 2016    – Reported by committee
(wo/quorum)
     Feb 4, 2016    – Reported by committee
     Feb 4, 2016    – 2nd reading in Senate
     Feb 8, 2016    – Referred: Senate Budget
and Appropriations
S-848  Stack, B.P. (D-33); Oroho, S.V. (R-24)
Requires certain State oversight of budgets of regional
sewerage authorities.
     Jan 12, 2016    – Introduced in Senate
     Jan 12, 2016    – Referred: State
Govt. Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation
     Feb 8, 2016    – Reported by committee
     Feb 8, 2016    – 2nd reading in Senate
     Feb 8, 2016    – Referred: Senate Budget
and Appropriations


S-969  Smith, B. (D-17); Bateman, C. (R-16)
Implements 2014 constitutional dedication of CBT
revenues for certain environmental purposes; revises State’s open space,
farmland, and historic preservation programs.
     Jan 12, 2016    – Introduced in Senate
     Jan 12, 2016    – Referred: Senate
Environment and Energy
     Jan 25, 2016    – Posted: Senate Environment
and Energy
     Jan 25, 2016    – Reported by committee
(wo/quorum)
     Feb 4, 2016    – Reported by committee
     Feb 4, 2016    – 2nd reading in Senate
     Feb 8, 2016    – Referred: Senate Budget
and Appropriations
S-981  Smith, B. (D-17); Bateman, C. (R-16)
Revises “Electronic Waste Management Act.”
Related Bill: A-2375
     Feb 4, 2016    – Introduced in Senate
     Feb 4, 2016    – Referred: Senate
Environment and Energy
     Feb 4, 2016    – Reported by committee
     Feb 4, 2016    – 2nd reading in Senate
     Feb 8, 2016    – Referred: Senate Budget
and Appropriations
S-984  Smith, B. (D-17); Bateman, C. (R-16)
Establishes “Solar Roof Installation Warranty
Program” in EDA and transfers $2 million from societal benefits charge to
initially fund program.
Related Bill: A-2446
     Feb 4, 2016    – Introduced in Senate
     Feb 4, 2016    – Referred: Senate
Environment and Energy
     Feb 4, 2016    – Reported by committee
     Feb 4, 2016    – 2nd reading in Senate
     Feb 11, 2016   – Passed by the Senate
(23-11)
S-985  Smith, B. (D-17); Bateman, C. (R-16)
Concerns low emission and zero emission vehicles;
establishes Clean Vehicle Task Force.
     Feb 4, 2016    – Introduced in Senate
     Feb 4, 2016    – Referred: Senate
Environment and Energy
     Feb 4, 2016    – Reported by committee
     Feb 4, 2016    – 2nd reading in Senate


S-986  Beach, J. (D-6); Smith, B. (D-17)
Requires paint producers to implement or participate in
paint stewardship program.
Related Bill: A-1373
     Feb 4, 2016    – Introduced in Senate
     Feb 4, 2016    – Referred: Senate
Environment and Energy
     Feb 4, 2016    – Reported by committee
     Feb 4, 2016    – 2nd reading in Senate
     Feb 8, 2016    – Referred: Senate Budget
and Appropriations
S-987  Smith, B. (D-17)
Establishes position of State Oceanographer.
Related Bill: A-231
     Feb 4, 2016    – Introduced in Senate
     Feb 4, 2016    – Referred: Senate
Environment and Energy
     Feb 4, 2016    – Reported by committee
     Feb 4, 2016    – 2nd reading in Senate
     Feb 11, 2016   – Passed by the Senate (34-0)
S-988  Smith, B. (D-17); Whelan, J. (D-2)
Permits BPU to approve qualified wind energy project;
requires BPU to provide application periods for those projects.
     Feb 4, 2016    – Introduced in Senate
     Feb 4, 2016    – Referred: Senate
Environment and Energy
     Feb 4, 2016    – Reported by committee
     Feb 4, 2016    – 2nd reading in Senate
     Feb 11, 2016   – Passed by the Senate
(23-11)




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Plans for AC Stockton U. campus and SJ Gas headquarters

Rendering of South Jersey Gas headquarters
Architectural and engineering plans for Atlantic City Development Corporation’s first project, including a proposed Stockton University satellite campus, have been submitted for land-use approval, Reuben Kramer reports today in the Press of Atlantic City.

A site plan submitted to the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority lays out on a molecular level the components of the campus, a South Jersey Gas corporate headquarters, and an 879-space garage proposed to be built on 270,000 square feet of land in the city’s Chelsea section.

The Authority, regulator of land use in the city’s Tourism District, must approve the plan, which will be the subject of a public hearing scheduled for Feb. 25.

The Chelsea project is the first major undertaking of the non-profit Corporation, which bills itself as a public-private partnership modeled after the New Brunswick (N.J.) Development Corporation.

In November, Chris Paladino, an attorney who heads both groups, said the project relies on a patchwork of public and private financing, including $44 million from South Jersey Gas; a $17 million grant from the Authority; subsidies from the state Economic Redevelopment and Growth Program; bond debt issued by the Atlantic County Improvement Authority; and a private equity investment.

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NJ Gov. Chris Christie ends his GOP presidential race

After countless hours of fundraising calls, town meetings, diner lunches, county fairs, interviews, speeches and selfies with thousands of supporters, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has ended his Republican presidential campaign.

NJ Gov. Chris Christie ends his GOP presidential race Read More »

Bridgegate defendants win access to Christie aides’ emails

   Kelly and Baroni – Amy Newman/Kevin R. Wexler/Record staff photographers 

Bridgegate, the political scandal that has dogged and damaged the GOP presidential campaign of NJ Governor Chris Christie is back in the news.


The Record‘s Peter J. Samson and Paul Berger report today:


A federal judge on Friday gave defense attorneys a powerful tool in the George Washington Bridge lane-closure case: the ability to subpoena emails and other documents withheld by the law firm Governor Christie hired to investigate who closed the lanes and why.

U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton said such power, given to lawyers for Bridget Anne Kelly, a onetime deputy chief of staff to Christie, and Bill Baroni, a former deputy executive director of the Port Authority, “was not a fishing expedition.”

The pair, who both appeared in court Friday, are accused of closing two of three local access lanes to the bridge for five mornings in September 2013 to punish Fort Lee’s mayor for not endorsing Christie’s reelection bid. The closings, which were initially explained as part of a traffic study, caused widespread traffic jams, and the resulting scandal continues to dog Christie’s presidential bid. The trial is scheduled to begin on May 16, but that date is expected to be pushed back.

Christie’s office hired the powerful law firm Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher in January 2014 to look into who was behind the lane closures. The firm’s lawyers were given access to thousands of internal documents from the governor’s office and interviewed more than 70 people. The resulting 334-page report, published in March 2014, blamed Kelly and David Wildstein, a high-ranking Port Authority official with ties to Christie, for shutting the bridge lanes, but it concluded that the governor had no knowledge of the lane closures.

The report also found that although Baroni’s behavior was “concerning,” there was no evidence that he knew the lane closures were politically motivated.

At the time of its release, the report was widely criticized, in particular by Assemblyman John Wisniewski, D-Middlesex, and state Sen. Loretta Weinberg, D-Teaneck, the leaders of a joint legislative committee that investigated the lane closures, who said the report was lacking in “objectivity and thoroughness.”

Subpoena power

During their own 16-month investigation, federal prosecutors subpoenaed Gibson Dunn for relevant documents that were compiled as part of the report. Defense lawyers for Kelly and Baroni say that prosecutors did not sufficiently challenge Gibson Dunn when the firm redacted and withheld many documents.

With the judge’s ruling Friday, attorneys now have subpoena power to force Gibson Dunn to turn over those documents, including previously withheld emails sent between key Christie allies during the week of the lane closures.



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Acting NJ Attorney General leaving for Rutgers position

Eric Strauss of NJBIZ reports this afternoon that:

New Jersey’s longtime acting attorney general, John J. Hoffman, is headed to the world of academia.
Hoffman, who has served as acting attorney general since June 2013, has been named Rutgers University’s senior vice president and general counsel, effective March 14, the college announced in a news release Thursday.
“I am deeply impressed by John’s intelligence and legal acumen, the wide range of statutory and regulatory issues he has handled, and his record of excellence in state and federal service,” Rutgers President Robert Barchi said in a prepared statement. “I am eager to bring his leadership and expertise to Rutgers.”

Related Story

Rutgers University’s general counsel departs for New York law firm

Hoffman replaces Monica C. Barrett, formerly the interim senior vice president and general counsel. She left Rutgers for a New York law firm as of Jan. 1.
“After nearly 20 years of state and federal government service, I am thrilled to be joining this iconic institution that has for centuries trained our leaders of tomorrow,” Hoffman said in a statement. “I strongly believe in Rutgers’ ever-expanding mission, as well as the dynamic leadership role that it plays within the state, and I look forward to joining President Barchi and his exceptional team.”
Before becoming acting attorney general, Hoffman was executive assistant attorney general under Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa. He has also worked in the state comptroller’s office, as well as at the U.S. Department of Justice and as an assistant U.S. attorney.

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RGGI: The New Jersey pollution debate that refuses to die

The multi-state energy compact with the friendly sounding name of RGGI (pronounced Reggie) has morphed into a decidedly unfriendly tug of war between New Jersey Democrats and Republicans that goes on and on and on.

Under the Democratic administration of former Gov. Jon Corzine, RGGI was hailed as an innovative way to cut carbon emissions from energy plants and simultaneously generate money to support a variety of alternative energy investments and energy conservation projects.

Under the Republican administration of Gov.Chris Christie, RGGI was re-cast as a villain out to jack up energy costs, mug big industrial power users, and not accomplishment much for the environment in the process.

NJ Spotlight‘s Tom Johnson, who has been chronicling every RGGI push and pull, brings us up to date on NJDEP’s reaction to the Legislature’s latest attempt to get RGGI back in the game.

DEP says ‘no way’ to rejoining RGGI; Dispute may head to court–again


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