Bill Text: NJ AR48 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges Governor to rejoin Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative because of its importance to national security and energy independence.*
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-0)
Status: (Passed) 2014-05-22 - Filed with Secretary of State [AR48 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-AR48-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
216th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2014 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman UPENDRA J. CHIVUKULA
District 17 (Middlesex and Somerset)
Assemblyman JOHN F. MCKEON
District 27 (Essex and Morris)
Assemblyman REED GUSCIORA
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
SYNOPSIS
Urges NJ participation in Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative because of its importance to national security and energy independence.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Assembly Resolution urging New Jersey's participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative because of its importance to national security and energy independence.
Whereas, Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions contribute to global climate change and are a threat to the public health, safety, and security of New Jerseyans, Americans, and people around the world; and
Whereas, The United States' reliance and dependence on oil imported from foreign countries, some with little political stability, and on energy derived from facilities and technologies that generate significant GHG emissions poses a risk to our national security and energy infrastructure; and
Whereas, The Legislature enacted P.L.2007, c.112 (C.26:2C-37 et al.), entitled the "Global Warming Response Act" (GWRA), and P.L.2007, c.340 (C.26:2C-45 et al.), commonly known as the "Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative" or "RGGI" implementing law, to reduce GHG emissions from electricity generated Statewide, or generated outside of the State but consumed in the State, through participation in regional or international initiatives to reduce these emissions, among other things; and
Whereas, New Jersey was one of 10 northeast and mid-Atlantic states participating in RGGI, which established an emissions allowance auction and trading mechanism to reduce the level of GHG emissions on a regional basis and which was agreed to by the signatory states in a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2005; and
Whereas, Governor Christie has attested to the responsibility of New Jersey to "make the environment of our State and of the world better" and declared the State's "obligation to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions," but on May 26, 2011 he announced that New Jersey will withdraw from the regional initiative by the end of the year; and
Whereas, New Jersey's participation in RGGI is a key component of the authorization granted and affirmed by the GWRA and the RGGI implementing law, and participation in the regional initiative is in the best interest of the State in order to significantly lower GHG emissions and meet the emissions targets established under law; and
Whereas, This State and many other states in the nation are pursuing and implementing laws to reduce GHG emissions and the reliance on foreign oil imports and increase the use of alternative forms of energy that are renewable, thus improving environmental health and air quality and strengthening the country's energy independence at all levels - governmental, industrial, commercial, and consumer; and
Whereas, The United States spends an estimated $1 billion or more per day on foreign oil imports, with reports indicating that over $33 billion was spent in July 2013 alone, and significant amounts of imported oil are from areas experiencing political instability; and
Whereas, This country's dependency on oil imported from areas in strife underwrites various nations who may, in turn, use this money to fight or prolong combat with the United States, and finance the purchase of weapons used therefore, and thereby put more American military in harm's way; and
Whereas, The United States Department of Defense is the single largest consumer of energy and crude oil in the nation, and military officials attest to the importance of alternative energy and its value to results on the battlefield; and
Whereas, In May 2011, U.S. Navy Secretary Mabus declared the Navy's embrace of alternative energy because it will "make us better warfighters," and established rules so alternative fuels used by the Navy are homegrown, do not impede food production, and are usable with existing vehicles; and
Whereas, Veterans groups and national security organizations are publicly supporting RGGI in order to improve the safety of American men and women in the United States armed forces; and
Whereas, Supporting American men and women risking their lives on the battlefield to protect the United States and supporting efforts to reduce GHG emissions that contribute to climate change and global warming are interrelated issues that are of importance and concern to people of all political stripes; and
Whereas, It is in the best interest of New Jersey and the nation to take all reasonable actions to strengthen our energy independence and national security and protect American troops by decreasing greenhouse gases, including through the State's participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. In the interest of supporting American troops and the safety of the nation's armed forces, this House urges the Governor to support New Jersey's commitment to the regional effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by renewing the State's participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested to by the Clerk thereof, shall be transmitted to the Governor, the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, the President of the Board of Public Utilities, the Executive Director of RGGI, Inc., the President of the Truman National Security Project, and the Campaign Director of Operation FREE.
STATEMENT
This resolution urges the Governor to remain committed to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) through the State's continued participation in RGGI in the interest of supporting American troops and the safety of the nation's armed forces and because of its importance in relation to national security and energy independence.
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions contribute to global climate change and are a threat to the public health, safety, and security of New Jerseyans, Americans, and people around the globe. The Legislature enacted P.L.2007, c.112 (N.J.S.A.26:2C-37 et al.), entitled the "Global Warming Response Act" (GWRA), and P.L.2007, c.340 (N.J.S.A.26:2C-45 et al.), commonly known as the "Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative" or "RGGI" implementing law, to reduce GHG emissions from electricity generated Statewide, or generated outside of the State but consumed in the State, through participation in regional or interstate initiatives to reduce these emissions, among other things. New Jersey is one of 10 northeast and mid-Atlantic states currently participating in RGGI, which established an emissions allowance auction and trading mechanism to reduce the level of GHG emissions on a regional basis.
Governor Christie has attested to the responsibility of New Jersey to "make the environment of our State and of the world better" and declared the State's "obligation to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions," but on May 26, 2011 he announced that New Jersey will withdraw from the regional initiative by the end of the year.
The nation's reliance and dependence on oil imported from foreign countries, some with little political stability, and on energy derived from facilities and technologies that generate significant GHG emissions poses a risk to our national security and energy infrastructure. This country's dependency on oil imported from areas in strife underwrites various nations who may, in turn, use this money to fight or prolong combat with the United States and thereby put more American military in harm's way. Military officials attest to the importance of alternative energy and its value to the result on the battlefield. Veterans groups and national security organizations, such as the Truman National Security Project and veterans with Operation FREE, are publicly supporting RGGI in order to improve the safety of American men and women in the armed forces.
