ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS APPLAUD PASSAGE OF LOW CARBON CONCRETE BILL IN NEW JERSEY LEGISLATURE

TRENTON – The following are statements from New Jersey environmental leaders regarding the passage of a bill in the New Jersey legislature that provides a tax credit for use of low carbon concrete. The bill had nearly unanimous  bipartisan support in both the Senate and the Assembly.

“After water, concrete is the most widely used substance on earth, and its production is extremely carbon intensive accounting for more than 7% of atmospheric carbon pollution. This bill is a smart, pragmatic step to reducing emissions from the building sector while simultaneously providing a market for New Jersey businesses to be competitive in developing low-carbon technologies for use in manufacturing,” said  Ed Potosnak, Executive Director, New Jersey League of Conservation Voters. “We want to thank Senator Greenstein and Assemblyman John McKeon for their commitment and leadership on passage of the low carbon concrete bill. It’s an important step toward building our carbon free future and helping to mitigate climate change while supporting New Jersey businesses. We look forward to Governor Murphy signing the bill into law as soon as possible.”

“This bill would be the first of its kind in the country and a tremendous step forward, and we hope Gov. Murphy seizes this opportunity to lead and innovate,” said Eric Miller, New Jersey Energy Policy Director at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council). “Decarbonizing concrete is a major untapped opportunity for climate action. To reach a low-carbon economy, we need a new standard for low carbon concrete that’s purchased by state agencies and rewards outstanding suppliers that adopt innovations that further drive down emissions.”

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