Responding to the Administration’s environmental vision for New Jersey encompassed within Governor Murphy’s State of the State address delivered Tuesday, Assemblywoman Nancy Pinkin (D-Middlesex), chair of the Assembly Environment & Solid Waste Committee, released the following statement:
“Climate change poses a real and imminent threat to the residents in our State and Americans across the country.
“Thankfully, we have worked together to make climate change mitigation a priority and have enacted legislation to put New Jersey back on track towards healthier, pollution-free communities.
“This past session alone saw the dedication of CBT revenues rise to six percent and the Preserve New Jersey Act extended to ensure the vitality of open space, farmland and historic preservation programs in the years to come.
“We took steps to guarantee greater affordability and accessibility of clean energy alternatives, committing $30 million annually to encourage the use of electric vehicles and $600 million to renewable energy infrastructure.
“We made much-needed updates to the Site Remediation Reform Act, in order to ensure the safe remediation of contaminated sites in an old, industrial state, and to encourage economic development in otherwise unused areas.
“But most importantly, we laid the foundation for continued long-term, strategic investments in our water infrastructure.
“I am committed to building on the successes of our environmental policy and tackling issues that persist, such as plastic pollution and the weakening of our recycling markets. Working with the Legislature and Administration, I look forward to taking bold action that distinguishes New Jersey as a leader on clean energy and environmental sustainability.”