New Jersey LCV Statement on Governor Murphy’s 2019 State of the Board Address Celebrating the Accomplishments of 2018 and Previewing the Priorities of 2019

TRENTON, NJ- Ed Potosnak, Executive Director of New Jersey League of Conservation Voters, released the following statement on Governor Murphy’s and BPU President Fiordaliso’s State of the Board Address today:

“We applaud Governor Murphy and BPU President Fiordaliso for their commitment to building a stronger and fairer New Jersey and we are excited to see what’s next. During Governor Murphy’s first year in office, he earned high marks on our report card for his nation-leading efforts to address climate change, including the signing of the landmark Clean Renewable Energy Bill.  This bill, and EO28, were a down payment on Governor Murphy’s commitment to 100% clean energy by 2050 which can catalyze thousands of good local jobs in the renewable energy economy in our state. We look forward to continuing to work with the Governor, his administration, and the legislature to ensure that we continue to grow our clean energy economy, protect our vulnerable communities and clean air, water, and land, and make New Jersey the greenest state in America.”

Several of the Governor’s accomplishments during his first year include:

• Signing a nation-leading Clean Renewable Energy Bill into law, which updated New Jersey’s Renewable Portfolio Standard reach 50% clean renewable energy by 2030
• Signing EO 28 which called for an updated Energy Master Plan to put the state on a path to realize 100% clean renewable energy by 2050
• Establishing the largest commitment to offshore wind in the United States by committing to 3,500 MW by 2030, and solicited the largest single-state bid for offshore wind at 1,200 MW
• Signing an executive order to reenter New Jersey into the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and agree to terms for reentry, which is poised over the next decade to reduce the carbon emission equivalent of 139,000 cars or the planting of 4.6 million trees, while investing in cumulative impact reductions
• Affirming the administration’s commitment to Environmental Justice principles and protection of vulnerable communities through EO23
• Protecting our shoreline economy and communities by opposing fossil fuel exploration off our coasts by making the STOP Act law
• Issuing an executive order joining with several other states to prevent fracking in the Delaware River Basin
• Joining the U.S. Climate Alliance, demonstrating New Jersey’s commitment to meeting Paris Climate Accord goals

New Jersey League of Conservation Voters is a non-partisan organization whose mission is to elect environmental champions, hold public officials accountable, and support laws which protect our environment and improve the quality of people’s lives.

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