Statement of Dena Mottola Jaborska, Executive Director, on Governor Corzine’s Economic Plan
October 16, 2008
Today, Governor Corzine announced a plan to address the state’s very serious economic hardships.
The governor’s strong support for certain clean energy initiatives is laudable, and the right way forward for New Jersey’s economy and environment. Other aspects of his plan, however, miss important job creation opportunities and threaten to seriously undermine his efforts to fight global warming.
We all know that the economy is in trouble. Rising energy costs coupled with the economic failures of Wall Street have created tough times for many New Jerseyans.
To his credit, the governor understands the enormous economic and environmental benefits of investing in clean energy. More than ever, renewable energy and energy efficiency are the bright spots in our economy. The clean energy sector is growing in New Jersey and across America, and has the potential to create millions of new jobs in this country. With Governor Corzine’s leadership, we could create as many as 58,000 of those jobs here in New Jersey.
To that end, we applaud the governor’s administration for supporting the state’s highly successful Clean Energy Program, and for committing to double funding for clean energy projects over the next four years. Already, as a result of this program, the solar industry in New Jersey has grown to one of the largest solar markets in the nation. At present, New Jersey is second only to California in installing solar panels and bringing this clean, renewable energy to residents and businesses. And the Clean Energy Program’s investment in energy efficient technologies realizes a financial return of over four to one. In total, this program supports clean, efficient technologies that reduce energy demand, save consumers money, and grow the economy.
The Administration’s recent vote to double the program’s funding ensures that we will realize even greater benefits. We will see more home-grown solar and wind energy in New Jersey, we will adopt a “whole building” approach to build the most energy efficiency buildings possible, and we will establish funding for research and development of new emerging renewable technologies that, like solar, could set up shop here in New Jersey.
In addition, we applaud the governor for his strong commitment to bring offshore wind to New Jersey. His offshore wind proposal will create over 4,000 new jobs, support New Jersey-based companies, and provide enough clean, renewable, home-grown energy for one million New Jersey households by 2020. Governor Corzine’s offshore wind goal is hands-down the most ambitious in the nation, and every New Jerseyan will reap the benefits.
Unfortunately, the governor’s plan as outlined today also misses new job creation potential and undermines his clean energy and global warming progress.
Governor Corzine’s plan to increase tolls to widen our major highways will do nothing to alleviate road congestion, and will bring more vehicles and more global warming pollution to New Jersey.
Already, cars and trucks are the leading source of global warming pollution in the state. To date, the governor and his administration have done little to reduce emissions from the transportation sector, and now the governor is proposing to widen our roads.
When it comes to highways, studies show that ‘if you build it, they will come.’ Our roads will be filled with more cars as soon as we complete the widening project, and this will mean more global warming pollution at a time when we need to be directing all of our efforts toward slashing greenhouse gas emissions.
Instead of widening roads, the governor should grow the economy and stay true to his global warming commitments by investing in more public transportation, more freight rail, commuter incentive programs, and repairing our existing roads and bridges. Such investments will create far more jobs than road widening projects, they will give New Jerseyans more transportation choices, and they will cut global warming pollution state-wide.
A 2004 study by the Surface Transportation Project shows that investments in public transportation and road repair create 8,000 more jobs than equal investments in new road capacity. By their numbers, if the governor invested his proposed $7 billion in transportation alternatives instead of widening roads, New Jersey could see as many as 44,000 more jobs.
Beyond job creation, the governor must acknowledge the dire economic impacts of more global warming pollution from increased vehicle traffic. A 2007 study by our group shows that, if unchecked, global warming will impact every corner of New Jersey. Unchecked global warming could cause rising sea levels that will swallow many of our most treasured beaches. These beaches support a $16 billion tourism economy and tens of thousands of jobs in New Jersey. In addition, scientists agree that global warming will bring more tropical storms and severe weather events that could flood the Turnpike, the Parkway, our bridges and tunnels, and hamper the economy with major traffic interruptions.
Finally, the governor has called for a reduction of the corporate business tax that, among other things, supports environmental programs that protect water quality, help to clean up toxic air pollution from diesel vehicles, and fuel the clean up of contaminated sites which plague our state, just to name a few. These are programs that are necessary to ensure the state is healthy, as well as attractive to businesses looking to invest here. We are concerned that the Governor’s proposal to cut the tax will diminish these programs, leaving a portion of the problems these programs address unresolved. To do so is penny-wise and pound foolish, as the problems will continue to demand attention, and the state will be faced with investing in the problems at a later date when the expense of tackling them will only be greater.
In closing, we strongly support the governor’s commitment to clean energy, which is the best way to create new jobs and guard against the economic threats posed by global warming. In that vein, we encourage Governor Corzine to reject any proposal that would divert funds away from the state’s tremendous “green jobs” potential, limit funds needed to clean up environmental pollution, or create more global warming pollution in New Jersey.
Simply put, Governor Corzine should veto the Turnpike Authority’s capital budget, reconsider his proposed cut to the corporate business tax and follow through on his laudable commitments to clean energy and energy efficiency.
