Assembly Utilities Committee Chair Cites Importance of Greenhouse Gas Initiative to New Jersey’s Economy & Environment
Assemblyman Upendra J Chivukula (D-Middlesex/Somerset), Chairman of the Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee and author of the state’s landmark Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), today questioned Governor Christie’s decision not to include RGGI in the continuously-delayed Energy Master Plan.
“The governor needs to be aware that RGGI is not something that he can choose to follow as he pleases, that it is in fact the law, a law that has helped stimulate the renewable energy business in New Jersey. By his proposed actions, more economic and environmental harm will be inflicted upon New Jersey. The governor has already raided $78 million that was supposed to be used to create 25 combined heat and power plants (CHP). We need to know how many jobs were lost by that decision alone. To continue to disregard such important environmental and economic policies is reckless and dangerous,” said Chivukula.