Imagine this: A governor talking about the sad reality of climate change, investing aggressively in renewable energy, and creating housing safe from the danger of lead.
To the state’s diverse environmental community, Gov. Phil Murphy’s inaugural speech signaled that New Jersey once again should embrace a leadership role in protecting its air, water, and land from the legacy of pollution that too often in the past defined it.
While short on specifics, Murphy yesterday vowed to push the state in a different direction than in the past eight years, fighting here in New Jersey and in Washington, D.C. to lead the nation in progressive policies.
“New Jersey once was a national model for protecting the environment and growing an economy fueled by innovation and ideas,’’ Murphy said. “We can, and will stand for the right things.’’
After eight years of battling Gov. Chris Christie over his efforts to streamline the state’s stringent environmental laws and to expand its energy infrastructure, Murphy’s position is a refreshing change to some.
“This is an important day for the environment,’’ said Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “We had a governor talking about lead in housing, offshore oil drilling, and climate change. When was the last time we had a governor mention the environment in a positive way?’’
Murphy’s clean-energy agenda
Murphy’s clean-energy agenda already has been introduced in the Legislature. The legislative package includes a push to have 100 percent of the state’s power come from clean energy by 2050; a goal of 3,500 megawatts of offshore wind; and developing 600 megawatts of energy storage capacity.
“There is a lot of excitement about what lies ahead,’’ said Ed Potosnak, executive director of the League of Conservation Voters of New Jersey. “There’s tremendous opportunity and hope going forward.’’
Of course, laying out an agenda is more easily accomplished than getting it enacted into law, a distinction not lost on clean energy advocates. Each of Murphy’s energy goals include policies that could boost consumer and business utility bills — at least in the short term.
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