NJ Spotlight published the following article on 7/10/2014. To read the full article, click here.
Marathon Legislative Session to Address Critical Energy Issues Facing New Jersey
Tom Johnson | July 10, 2014How well is New Jersey doing in its attempts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions? That question may be answered today when a legislative committee holds a marathon session on key energy issues in the state.
The hearing in the Statehouse will focus on four topics, including whether New Jersey is achieving the goals of the Global Warming Response Act, a law signed by former Gov. Jon Corzine in 2007.
The issue has moved to the forefront with a recent proposal by the Obama administration to require 30 percent reductions in emissions from coal power plants by 2030. The state law, however, is even more stringent, saying carbon-causing pollution has to be cut by 80 percent by 2050.
It also is one of rising concern among environmentalists who fear the Christie administration is not doing enough to deal with the effects of climate change.
A study done by the Department of Environmental Protection on how New Jersey can achieve the goals of the global-warming-response law identified three strategies to reach the targets — participating in a regional initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from power plants; the state’s Energy Master Plan; and a program to usher in zero-emission vehicles to New Jersey.
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