Why So Many Warehouses?
New Warehouses Must Be Solar-Ready
By Kip Cherry, Central Jersey Conservation Chair
In November 2021, Gov. Phil Murphy signed A3352 requiring newly constructed warehouses to be solar-ready buildings. The solar-ready requirement will apply to any newly constructed warehouse for which an application for a construction permit has not been declared complete by the enforcing agency before July 1, 2022.
EPR Bills Would Help Solve Product Packaging and Waste Problems
Extended producer responsibility (EPR) tasks manufacturers to pay and innovate to solve the huge waste problems created by the production and sale of their own products. EPR bills are making a timely entrance into a growing global waste crisis. Over the coming year, New Jersey legislators will be increasingly focused on an EPR packaging bill.
A Heartfelt Thank You and a Warm Welcome
While there are many volunteers who’ve done outstanding work, I want to give special thanks and appreciation to someone who has worked tirelessly in a number of capacities vital to keeping our Chapter successful.
Don’t Sit Out This Election
POLITICAL COMMITTEE CHAIR'S REPORT
By Karen Becker, political.chair@newjersey.sierraclub.org
“I’m not voting. My vote doesn’t matter.” This is a common phrase heard during an election cycle. One or two votes may not change the outcome of an election. But what if hundreds or thousands of people decided not to vote because they think their vote doesn’t matter?
Legislative Committee News
Energy Storage Plays an Instrumental Role
CONSERVATION CHAIR'S MESSAGE
By Greg Gorman, ggorman@embargmail.com
Climate crisis–induced heat waves and cold snaps stress our energy systems. The strategy to address the climate crisis is to replace fossil fuels with clean energy and to electrify everything. The combination of weather extremes, electrification, and an aging power grid will require significant infrastructure investments. The challenge is to achieve integration of clean power while providing reliable electricity.
E-School Bus Milestone
Four years of hard work finally paid off for members of the NJ Chapter’s Transportation Committee when Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law A1282 (Stanley) and companion bill S759 (Diegnan, Greenstein). The bill allocates $45 million spread over 3 years to subsidize the cost of electric school buses in the northern, central, and southern regions of the state, with emphasis on funding electric buses in economically challenged or overburdened communities.
Search for Executive Director Continues
Put a Hold on That Next Long-Distance Getaway
By Tony Hagen, editor@newjersey.sierraclub.org
One recent morning, I awoke to much grinding and crunching coming from the property next door. It was the wrecking crew for new curb construction. It was loud. To escape and regroup, I hopped into the car and drove to Starbucks. Abandoning ship is a reflex action that afflicts many Americans. To escape the ills of modern civilization, we go not only to Starbucks, but also to many countries abroad.
It’s Time to Decommission Natural Gas Plants
March for Clean Air and Climate Justice
By Denise Brush, offshorewind@newjersey.sierraclub.org
Several members of the NJ Chapter of the Sierra Club attended the June 23 March for Clean Air and Climate Justice in Trenton, including Chapter Director Anjuli Ramos-Busot, Newsletter Editor Tony Hagen, Central Jersey Chair Joanne Pannone, Sindhu Pasricha, Leona Fluck, and me. The march was organized by the staff of Food & Water Watch of New Jersey on behalf of the Empower NJ coalition, to which the NJ Chapter belongs.
Manasquan Reservoir
The diminutive state of New Jersey boasts many miles of hiking trails managed by town, city, county and state authorities and in Wildlife Management Areas, from Cape May through Sussex counties. Each trail is a treasure.
The Advantages of Agrivoltaics and Solar Grazing
By Jordan Thompson, jmt185@pitt.edu
The Biden administration and various states have set a goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. However, to do this the United States will have to drastically increase renewable energy output from its 2021 level of 12% of total US energy consumption.
Just What Does “Building Electrification” Mean?
“Building electrification” encompasses a wide range of electrical solutions to many of our fossil fuel problems, with the hopes of putting a big dent in climate change and reducing early deaths from respiratory illnesses, especially in urban areas.
Key Provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 is a landmark environmental achievement. Democratic proponents say it will put the country on track for a 40% emissions reduction by 2030. The legislation will provide as much as $369 billion for the climate struggle by imposing a minimum 15% tax on corporate revenues, allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices with manufacturers, and enabling the Internal Revenue Service to crack down harder on tax cheats.
American Dream Mall Rattles Bondholders
The $1.2 billion in NJ funds invested in the American Dream mall in East Rutherford might have supported lead detoxification, the clean energy transition, or school construction. Instead, the money appears well sunk into a deepening money pit.
Stop the Transco Pipeline and Compressor Project
The Williams Transco Regional Energy Access Expansion Project (REAE) threatens to undermine climate action progress and add to the burden on environmental justice communities.
Update on the Use of Residential Air Filters to Mitigate Indoor Effects of Air Pollutants
Several years ago, I wrote an article for the Raritan Valley Group webpage on using residential air filters to help treat several respiratory diseases. Since that time new filters have been developed that can remove significantly smaller particles than earlier filters, a major improvement in their efficacy.
Putting a Spotlight on Artificial Light Pollution
Neil deGrasse Tyson was embarrassed. In discussing how exterior lighting is the bane of astronomers, the director of the Hayden Planetarium admitted to once being rebuked by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) because floodlights at his newly reconstructed planetarium pointed skyward.
Next Steps for Bridge Point
2022 Election for NJ Chapter Officers and Groups
Balloting is now under way for the 2022 election of executive officers and group leaders for the NJ Chapter of the Sierra Club. All current members are invited to participate. Members will receive solicitations via email in October for online voting. The deadline for receipt of ballots is November 14 (e-ballot or paper). Votes may be cast using the mail-in paper ballot in the print edition of this newsletter.