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Pinkin Leads Fight to Keep New Jersey’s Air Clean with Advancement of Resolution

(TRENTON) – Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Chairwoman Nancy Pinkin has long been a staunch defender of protecting our environment, and she remains steadfast in her efforts to push back against dangerous, anti-environmental policies coming out of Washington.

She made this clear by sponsoring a resolution expressing opposition to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Affordable Clean Energy rule proposal, which was advanced out of the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee on Monday.

“We cannot, and will not, allow these harmful policies which threaten the wellbeing of our planet to be implemented without a fight,” said Pinkin (D-Middlesex). “In order for us as a society to survive and thrive, the first thing we need is clean air, and that is not something New Jersey is willing to compromise.”

The resolution (AR-184) would urge the federal government to oppose the Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule proposed by the EPA, which would allow states to decide their emissions-reductions targets, including not having any at all.

ACE was proposed by the Trump Administration in an effort to undo the Clean Power Plan, which sought to reduce carbon-dioxide emissions from power plants by 32 percent from their 2005 levels by 2030.

While the name touts affordability, the EPA’s own analysis shows that retail electricity prices would be reduced by a mere 0.1-0.2 percent by 2035, but that the use of coal would increase dramatically, by as much as nearly 10 percent.

Despite there only being two coal plants in New Jersey, our proximity to other states makes this problematic for the state’s air quality.

Much of Monday’s hearing focused on how New Jersey can fight back against recent EPA rollbacks and emerge as the preeminent environmental leader on a national level. As Chairwoman of the Environment and Solid Waste Committee, Assemblywoman Pinkin has acted as a consistent champion of the environment and has fought to keep New Jersey’s air and water free from pollutants. This resolution is another example of Chairwoman Pinkin’s commitment to protecting the health of New Jerseyans.