Clean Water Action Viewpoint: Murphy's Environmental Legacy and Sherrill's Environmental Commitments
Governor Phil Murphy’s Environmental Legacy January 2018 – January 2026
When Phil Murphy first ran for Governor in 2017, Clean Water Action made its endorsement based on the following policy commitments.
- Stop raiding the Clean Energy Fund to increase funding for energy efficiency programs and especially provide environmental justice (EJ) communities the capacity to access new local jobs and revenue generation in the clean energy economy.
- Prioritize port infrastructure projects that reduce diesel emissions and related adverse health impacts in ports adjacent EJ communities.
- Use comprehensive cumulative impact analysis tool to inform state programs, project future needs, and give a meaningful voice to EJ communities in decision-making processes.
- Put New Jersey on a path to a 100% clean energy economy by 2050 with an announcement of a clean energy and jobs agenda within his first 100 days and new state Energy Master Plan in 2018, with targets of 3,500 megawatts (MW) of offshore wind generation by 2030 enough power for 1.5 million homes, 600 MW of clean energy storage by 2021 with a goal of 2000 MW deployed by 2030, while making sure EJ communities are 100% part of the plan and its implementation.
When Governor Murphy came up for re-election in 2021, Clean Water Action considered his first term accomplishments and endorsed him for a second term. Highlights include but are not limited to:
- Signed landmark environmental justice law (2020) that requires facility permits to reduce emissions and/or deny new permits in already overburdened communities, as well as create a process for community input.
- Established precedent setting 2020 laws including ban single use plastic bags, Styrofoam with straws offered by request and managing some sources of food waste through centralized composting facilities.
- Stopped several, but not all, fossil fuel projects including the PennEast pipeline and NESE gas pipelines (but later allowed in 2025) as well as proposed frack gas power plants in the Meadowlands.
- Passed Electric Vehicle bill (2020) with consumer rebates and bus mandates.
- National leader on offshore wind -- 7500 MW and created NJ windport, manufacturing and jobs.
- Ban all facets of fracking in the Delaware Basin.
- Require drinking water lead service lines to be replaced statewide within 10 years, or by 2031.
- Adopted strictest PFOA/PFOS standard for drinking water (2020) in the nation. Piloting treatment systems in selected locations and plan to expand protection efforts in the future.
- Adopted Advanced Clean Truck Rule (2021) which increased sales of electric trucks.
There were additional commitments made to: update the Energy Master Plan, fast-track and strengthen NJDEP PACT (Protection Against Climate Threats), Inland Flood Protection and REAL rules, and create sustainable funding source for NJ Transit and end Clean Energy Fund raid.
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Reality of Governor Murphy’s Environmental Legacy
Governor Murphy got out of the gate quite strong on an energy, green jobs and environmental justice (EJ) agenda. He created the framework for action – 100% clean energy by 2050, later made a more urgent goal of 100% clean energy by 2035.
But his ability to succeed was partially hindered by his slowness to make critical and good appointments happen (e.g. Pinelands Commission) and slowness to finalize strong, clear plans and updated policies/regulations (e.g. Inland Flood Protection rules, NJPACT-REAL rules, Energy Master Plan). His rocky relationship with the legislature and other political pressures/missteps also hampered his ability to control his agenda, govern and establish a fairer budget.
Additionally, no one could have foreseen the devastating impacts of the Covid pandemic, economic downturn, rising interest rates, re-election of Trump, corresponding loss/uncertainty of federal funding and policy reversals (e.g. All NJ Offshore Wind projects cancelled.). So there is no knowing if Governor Murphy could have accomplished more if these destabilizing conditions had not occurred.
Even when good policies were signed into law, the strength of those policies was largely due to collective, consistent and intense grassroots pressure both at the legislature and administration (e.g. Environmental Justice law, Inland Flood rule).
While the Governor Murphy’s chief accomplishments have already been mentioned, below are some of our disappointments and mixed reviews.
- While he denied several fossil fuel projects (PennEast pipeline and Meadowlands/NJTransit power plants), he approved the PVSC gas plant in Newark despite 3 other powerplants nearby and new EJ law and NESE pipeline even after it had been declined 3 times previously.
- Despite saying “I will fix NJ Transit if it kills me”, he did not create a sustainable source of funding, kept raiding capital budget for operating expenses as well as the Clean Energy Fund. To his credit, there are more bus operators and train engineers trained and licensed. NJTransit fares were frozen for a number of years. But, equipment failures, delays and cancellations of routes/rides and heat related shutdowns of train lines are still common.
- Little progress on electrifying transit bus fleet (100% of purchases by 2032), currently less than 10 buses (in Camden) operating; On the positive side, secured funds to upgrade Wayne and Meadowlands bus depots and charging infrastructure for both cars and trucks along major traffic corridors under the NEVI program.
- Continue to subsidize PSEG’s nuclear plants by $300 million per year despite years when conditions did not warrant BPU’s approval.
- Only after intense public pressure were the Inland Flood Protection rules issued. This was after long delays, many rewrites and despite recent devastation of Hurricane Ida. The REAL rules have still not been formally adopted.
- Issued good but unenforceable warehouse siting guidance, but no tangible progress on diesel or zero emissions policies at these facilities (e.g. Indirect Source Review).
Mikie Sherrill: Our Next Governor
Committed to Polluter Pays & Public Health Protections
Mikie Sherrill has been a longtime partner of Clean Water Action, sharing core values of people, action, justice and affordability. As Sherrill transitions into her new role as Governor, Clean Water Action plans to work with her and her administration on critically important efforts that will continue New Jersey’s leadership as a national standard setter for environmental justice and protections for all of its residents regardless of their zip code or economic status.
The following are highlights of environmental policies, practices and funding priorities that Mikie Sherrill committed to Clean Water Action if elected Governor:
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Believes NJ needs to continue to take strong action against polluters, holding them accountable for the harm they cause our communities, particularly communities that have for too long have disproportionately faced the health and environmental consequences of polluters
Clean Water Action is calling on her to make polluters pay for their climate damages by signing Climate Superfund Act, now entitled “Polluters Pay for a More Affordable New Jersey Act”, into law and ensuring quick implementation.
- Fully enforce NJ’s 2020 Environmental Justice law and corresponding regulations.
Clean Water Action played a primary role in its passage and rulemaking.
- Strongly believes that our incarcerated populations deserve clean drinking water.
This is in line with Clean Water Action’s Safe Water Safe Lives Initiative and Declaration of Environmental Rights for Incarcerated Persons.
- Strongly supports continuing the state’s critical work in replacing lead service lines - deadline for replacing all of NJ’s residential lines is 2031.
- Would take steps to address the presence of toxics in personal care and beauty products which are disproportionately more dangerous in products marketed to women of color.
Clean Water Action has a new legislative package of bills that address PFAS is menstrual products and apparel, as well as carcinogens in hair products. Expanding efforts with utilities to keep PFAS out of water supplies as well as ensure implementation of existing stricter PFAS drinking water standards and treatment.
- Strongly believes that NJ can be a leader in medium/heavy duty truck electrification...NJ needs a cleaner fleet to reduce harmful emissions, reduce long term health care costs in our communities ...as quickly as possible.
Clean Water Action is a lead advocate of Indirect Source Review legislation or regulation that would move ports and warehouses towards zero emissions faster. We support Sherrill’s call for a warehouse moratorium.
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Supports Skip the Stuff (S3195/A5157) which calls on businesses and institutions to provide single use disposable food service items only upon request.
This bill recently passed into law and now requires implementation. Complementary policies are being introduced for the 2026-7 legislative session to further reduce plastic waste, packaging and related toxins.
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Committed to ensuring that NJTransit’s capital and operating budgets have sustainable long-term funding to make service as convenient and accessible as possible, get cars off our highways and reduce emissions in our communities.
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Upgrade NJTransit’s existing garages, invest in charging infrastructure and workforce development needed to service electric buses.
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Diversion of NJ’s Clean Energy Fund is unacceptable, particularly as federal funds dry up. Clean Water Action has been a tireless advocate to end diversions.
- Top priority would be to upgrade our electric grid to ensure that we are able to take on new sources of clean energy; make investments in community solar.
Clean Water Action is seeking addition of truly green & clean (non-nuclear nor hydrogen) in-state energy and jobs; promotion of community solar; rejection of any additional fossil fuel infrastructure or power plants.
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Opposes OPRA rollbacks that reduced transparency and accountability of state government. Clean Water Action is part of a larger good government coalition.
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Apply congressional experience and knowledge to securing federal dollars as she has done in the past for infrastructure ($60 million BIA), PFAS ($2.8 million), brownfields remediation and more.
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Continue commitment to being a strong presence against the current Federal efforts to dismantle environmental protections and funding.
