Assemblyman Peter Barnes III released the following statement today after Governor Christie announced his misguided decision to withdraw New Jersey from the landmark, 10-state, Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative:
“With this decision today, this Governor has single-handedly set us back decades.
“RGGI was a momentous step towards reversing climate change by encouraging lower carbon dioxide emissions and alternative energy use. Not only would this have helped curb our over-reliance on fossil fuels and ease the acceleration of climate change, but it would eventually have helped us remove many of our troops from the Middle East.
“With Congress dragging its feet on this issue, now is the time for states to step up to the plate. Instead, the Governor has ignored his responsibility to the people of this state, punting yet another issue to someone else, and once again, demonstrating a lack of leadership.
“This is a sad day for New Jersey, our region, and our country as a whole, not to mention the world at large.”