For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Jackie.Greger@sierraclub.org
NJ FY25 Budget Takes One Step Forward for NJ Transit
Governor Murphy is proposing to make significant investments in our open spaces, grid and to NJ Transit. On February 27th, Governor Murphy gave his fiscal year budget address for 2025 (FY 25) which is available online here.
Anjuli Ramos-Busot, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club, issued the following statement;
“The FY 2025 state budget has some wins for our environment, including free state park entrance and dedication to the Garden State Greenway and adding much needed green space to urban North Jersey. Together, there will be $70 million allotted in this budget for the revitalization of Liberty State Park and development of the Greenway, which shows a real investment in conserving the natural beauty of our state and making the outdoors more accessible for all.
This year’s budget also takes significant measures toward achieving 100% clean electricity by 2035 by investing over $40 million for grid modernization and having that matched with federal funding to potentially double the amount. This significant investment is a necessary step in order to achieve our emission reduction and electrification goals. We are glad Governor Murphy continues to invest in a renewable future for New Jersey.
The Sierra Club is excited to see the proposed creation of the Corporate Transit Fee, a tax applicable to mega-corporations in the state with a $10 million income or more specifically dedicated to fund NJ Transit. This is a good foundation and starting point to address NJ Transit’s significant fiscal problems and targeting the ultra wealthy. However, the job is not finished. NJ Transit's capital budget and the Clean Energy Fund are still being raided to cover NJ Transit’s operational costs. It is imperative to keep the Clean Energy Fund whole so that these funds are utilized effectively for clean energy initiatives that are essential for our fight against climate change. NJ Transit requires investment of a scale significant enough that NJ riders and clean energy initiatives are not the ones paying the price.”
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About the Sierra Club: The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information about our work in New Jersey, visit www.sierraclub.org/new-jersey.