Ground-breaking global warming victory

New Jersey sets new energy precedent 

On June 21, the New Jersey Legislature overwhelmingly passed the Global Warming Response Act. Gov. Corzine signed the bill into law on July 6 at Giants Stadium, joined by Al Gore and the bill’s legislative champions.

To get the votes needed for success, Environment New Jersey staff and a cadre of citizen volunteers made phone calls and sent nearly 5,000 e-mails and petition signatures to legislators. Together, we signed on a bipartisan majority of co-sponsors to the bill in both houses of the Legislature.

Environment New Jersey also garnered endorsements for the legislation from 150 organizations, businesses and local elected officials, including the Public Service Enterprise Group, the state’s largest electricity provider. Environment New Jersey worked in close partnership with the bill’s prime sponsors, Assemblywoman Linda Stender and Sen. Barbara Buono, to build statewide support for the bill’s passage. The bill was also bolstered by strong support from Gov. Corzine, who worked to shape the bill and champion its passage.

Setting the bar

The ground-breaking legislation requires a mandatory reduction of the state’s global warming pollution to below 1990 levels by 2020 and 80 percent below current levels by 2050, what scientists say is necessary to avoid the worst impacts of global warming. It is the strongest, most comprehensive global warming legislation in the nation. “By cutting pollution levels here at home, we are setting the stage for urgently needed action across the country,” said Matt Elliott, Environment New Jersey’s global warming and clean energy advocate.

New Jersey’s action is at the forefront of a national trend of states taking the lead to tackle global warming. California and Hawaii have enacted legislation to reduce global warming pollution, and eight additional states are seriously considering similar legislation. The bill’s implementation is in the hands of several state agencies including the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), the Board of Public Utilities and others.