Empower NJ: New Jersey Can Address Budget Deficit, Improve Affordability by Making Polluters Pay

With the Trump administration cutting funding to states, the Polluters Pay Act would generate $2.5 billion annually for 20 years to invest in New Jersey at no cost to taxpayers

TRENTON — As New Jersey lawmakers begin crafting next year’s state budget, environmental advocates in Empower NJ called on legislators to make the world’s largest polluters pay for climate damages as a way to help close New Jersey's $3 billion structural deficit and pay for infrastructure and other costs currently shouldered by taxpayers.

The Polluters Pay for a More Affordable New Jersey Act (A3735/S2338) would require no more than 82 of the world’s largest corporate polluters to pay $2.5 billion annually over the next 20 years to fund critical infrastructure and climate resilience projects and programs across the state. This funding would surpass the $2.1 billion for infrastructure currently included in Governor Mikie Sherrill’s proposed budget.

In response to Governor Mikie Sherrill’s first budget address, the Empower NJ coalition released the following statements:

“Right now, every dollar spent cleaning up after floods and rebuilding our infrastructure comes out of the pockets of New Jersey families while big fossil fuel companies pay nothing. It’s a silent tax on all of us that drives up the cost of living,” said Matt Smith, New Jersey State Director at Food & Water Watch.

“New Jersey families shouldn’t have to pay one more dollar for climate damages until the polluters who caused this mess pay their fair share. It’s the right thing to do, and it’s the smartest way to fix our infrastructure and make historic investments in our state at no cost to taxpayers,” said Amy Goldsmith, New Jersey Director at Clean Water Action.

“Making polluters pay is how we can fund road repairs, flood prevention, and upgrades to our energy grid. It’s how we invest in our schools, public health and safety. As state lawmakers look for ways to make the state more affordable and improve our infrastructure and essential services, the Polluters Pay Act gives them a way to do both,” said Doug O’Malley, Director of Environment New Jersey.

Empower NJ, New Jersey's largest environmental advocacy coalition, includes Food & Water Watch, Clean Water Action, Environment New Jersey, and more than 140 environmental, labor, faith, and community organizations.

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