N.J. delegation gets mixed reviews from League of Conservation Voters
News Article • • by David Giambusso at Politico
The National League of Conservation Voters has released its annual congressional scorecard and the results for New Jersey are middling.
The environmental advocacy group rates senators and representatives based on their votes in their respective chambers on a slew of bills from 2015, ranging from clean energy to land conservation to pollution.
Protesters say no to offshore drilling
News Article • • by Amanda Oglesby at Asbury Park Press
ASBURY PARK - If the federal government approves oil and gas drilling offshore, a group of New Jersey elected officials, environmentalists and residents worry that beaches like Asbury Park's would be in jeopardy.
They envision a disaster like the one in Gulf Coast states after the Deepwater Horizon explosion of 2010, when millions of barrels of oil coated animals and slicked beaches for hundreds of miles. In the months afterward, crews cleaned oil and tar from beaches, ocean-dwelling animals died in unusual numbers, and that region's fishing and tourism industry were temporarily crippled.
Asbury Park Mayor John Moor said he worries a similar disaster could happen at the Jersey Shore.
OPEN-SPACE PRESERVATION FUNDING GETS PUT ON LEGISLATIVE FAST TRACK
News Article • • by Tom Johnson at NJ Spotlight
Hoping to free up funds sooner rather than later, a legislative committee yesterday quickly revived a bill to provide money to preserve open space, farmland, and historic structures.
Greens claim victory in Assembly elections
News Article • • by David Giambusso at Politico
Environmentalists ran a victory lap Wednesday as green candidates scored decisive victories in some Assembly districts and others staged upsets.
The environment and energy are usually considered less-burning topics in public opinion polls, though that dynamic has changed slowly in New Jersey since Hurricane Sandy. Green groups and pro-environment legislators say the election Tuesday is providing evidence that issues relating to climate change are becoming more important in the minds of voters.
"What we saw was a record number seeking our endorsement, a record number getting our endorsement and a record number winning," Ed Potosnak, executive director of the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters, said in an interview on Wednesday. "We had a record night last night."
The link between childhood health and available parkland
News Article • • by Ed Potosnak at NJ.com
Childhood health and obesity has increasingly become a problem. More than one-third of American children and adolescents are now either obese or overweight, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Rather than playing outside and being active, kids now spend five to seven hours a day watching TV, on the computer or playing video games. In many areas of New Jersey there simply are not enough open spaces for kids to get outside for healthy recreation.
Conservation group grateful to LoBiondo
News Article • • by Ed Potosnak and Gene Karpinski at Press of Atlantic City
At a time when too many representatives in Congress are sticking their heads in the sand about our environmental challenges, Rep. Frank LoBiondo is calling for action to protect South Jersey's environment and backing up his words with his votes.
Jersey City aims to reduce carbon footprint with energy-analysis plan
News Article • • by Melissa Bilecky at NJ.com
Jersey City officials are aiming to make city buildings more energy-efficient by implementing energy audits every three years, the city announced yesterday.
Mayor Fulop, Councilman Rivera, and the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters Announce Long-term Plan to Reduce Jersey City's Carbon Footprint and Put Jersey City on the Path to Become America's Greenest City
Press Release •
JERSEY CITY - Underscoring their commitment to sustainability, Mayor Steven M. Fulop and At-Large Councilman Daniel Rivera, along with the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters, announced today a long-term plan to reduce Jersey City's carbon footprint that paves a path for Jersey City to become America's greenest city. The new legislation, which calls for energy audits on a three-year basis, will create accountability and set aggressive goals to reduce energy consumption, serving as a model for municipalities across New Jersey.
Exxon Mobil agreement ‘horrific’
News Article • • by Joseph Passantino at Hudson Reporter
City, county, and environmental officials have greeted the state’s posting of the proposed $225 million cleanup settlement with the Exxon Mobil Corporation the same way they dealt with it six weeks ago: with disillusionment, concern, and even “horror.”
Letter: In Congress, Watson Coleman will lead on climate change
News Article • • by Ed Potosnak and Gene Karpinski at
Congratulations to Congresswoman-elect Bonnie Watson Coleman on her election (“Watson Coleman earns historic win,” Nov. 5).