If New Jersey were a country, it would be the 32nd highest carbon dioxide polluter in the world, a new report shows.
That might not seem surprising in a state where people say "What
exit?" instead of "Where ya from?" But a state environmental group said
Thursday New Jersey's leaders and residents could change all that.
Environment New Jersey, an arm of the New Jersey
Public Interest Research Group, released a report with 11 suggestions
for how the state could reduce carbon dioxide emissions to curb global
warming.
The recommendations range from updating state building codes to
providing more money for clean-energy programs, but the suggestions
focus heavily on cutting transportation-related pollutants, which
amount to more than half of carbon dioxide emissions.
Some of the suggestions struck some local commuters and business owners on Thursday as a little far-fetched.
The report suggests, for example, that the state implement
pay-as-you-drive car insurance that relies more on mileage to set
rates. It also calls for the state to mandate companies promote greater
use of carpooling and mass transit.
Such plans would be difficult for Charlie Dino, a Flemington
resident who drives for more than an hour every day to work at
Caraustar Custom Packaging in Clifton.
"Once I got into Clifton, I'd have to walk here," Dino said. The walk to the office is about three miles.
The report also suggests creating more community shuttle programs to
get people around. It also calls for the state to help businesses
offset the costs of implementing the programs, including preferential
parking for carpoolers and emergency ride programs for employees stuck
late at work.
Still, the recommendations aren't easy to implement in a sprawling, densely populated state.
"It just doesn't work in the suburbs," said Fateme Ghahary,
executive vice-president at Safas Corp., a Clifton company that
manufactures raw materials for surfacing products.
Many of the company's 60 employees have a daily commute of about 20
to 25 minutes, and several travel all the way from Pennsylvania,
Ghahary said.
"You go anywhere in Europe or even New York City, and every corner
has a subway station," she said. "But if you want to come to Clifton
from Ridgewood, you get dropped off at Main Street, which could be five
or 10 miles from where you work."
In the early 1990s, the state and federal government required New
Jersey employers to start programs aimed at cutting commutes, but after
heavy opposition, the policy was no longer mandated in 1996, according
to the report. Similar programs in Washington state and Oregon have
effectively reduced commuter travel, the report noted.
The report also encouraged further development of transit villages
to give people the option of living near public transportation, an idea
the group says will foster urban redevelopment as well as healthy air.
"It's focusing development and providing incentives to development,
and making sure there are transit hubs in areas where we know we need
redevelopment," said Suzanne Leta Liou, spokeswoman for Environment New
Jersey.
The report commends the state for introducing some forward-thinking
policies on producing electricity, which is also a major source of
emissions.
Gov. Jon S. Corzine issued an executive order earlier this year
directing the state to get 20 percent of its energy from renewable
sources by the year 2020. New Jersey also has joined the Regional
Greenhouse Gas Initiative -- or RGGI, a network of northeastern states
that capped utility emissions levels and implemented a trading system
for emissions permits.
But there are loopholes in the initiative, the report cautioned. For
example, the rules governing the program do not prevent New Jersey
utilities from increasing emissions in non-RGGI states and selling it
to New Jersey.
Though some of the programs, especially the commuter-focused ones,
may be difficult to implement over the short term, the advocacy group
thinks that investing in long-term solutions and promoting energy
efficiency will only benefit consumer pocketbooks, government and
businesses.
Leta Liou said building codes and some of the clean-energy investments take only five to 10 years to pay for themselves.
"There are a few that include investment, like building our
infrastructure," Leta Liou said. "Almost all of the suggestions will
end up saving consumers and the government money."
Reach Ashley Kindergan at 973-569-7164 or kindergan@northjersey.com.
