As the new home of NJPIRG's environmental work, Environment New Jersey can be contacted regarding this testimony.
NJPIRG supports the overall DEP budget, the $40 million for parks,
charging for power plant security, and the gas guzzler tax. The one
environmental proposal we can support only if amended is the water tax.
NJPIRG
is pleased that the Governor’s proposed budget provides a slight
increase in funding for the Department of Environmental Protection.
Despite a grave fiscal climate and so many cuts to important programs,
an adequate source of funding to the DEP is critical to protecting our
environment. In addition, I’d like to highlight four specific items in
the Governor’s proposed budget regarding the environment.
• Support the Elimination of Taxpayer Subsidy for Oyster Creek Nuclear Power Plant:
NJPIRG
supports the Governor’s proposal to save New Jersey $4.4 million by
requiring private companies that own state power plants to pay the full
price of securing those plants. This is especially important
considering that an attack on one of New Jersey’s four nuclear reactors
would cause catastrophic radioactive release. In fact, the New Jersey
Department of Protection recently stated in a legal brief that Oyster
Creek, the oldest operating nuclear power plant in the country,
“presents a prime target for terrorist attack because it is the most
centrally located nuclear facility on the Atlantic seaboard comprised
of the comparatively unreliable and vulnerable Mark I design.”
The
state police troopers and national guard troops that are required to
supplement security details at these plants are essential, but until
now, the state has unfairly had to bear the cost. The company operating
the plant should assume all of the related risks to public health and
safety, and the costs associated with such risks, including
publicly-operated security detail.
• Strengthen and Support the Gas Guzzler Fee:
NJPIRG
also supports the Governor’s proposed fee on gas guzzling cars, SUVs
and trucks, and urges the legislature to consider increasing the fee
and passing it as part of the budget this year. New Jersey is on a
collision course with energy problems that stem from our reliance on
oil: whether it is unsustainable and rising gas prices, air pollution
or the serious effects of global warming on our state. In 2004, NJPIRG
applauded this legislature for passing the Clean Cars program. And
while the Clean Cars program will begin addressing our oil consumption
when it starts in 2009, at the current moment, state policy does next
to nothing to reduce our dependence on oil within the transportation
sector. A gas guzzler fee is a sensible first step toward state action
to reduce oil and gas dependence for transportation, even as we
recognize that much more must be done.
Even in the face of
rapidly climbing gas prices, Congress and the President have failed to
adopt higher fuel efficiency standards. It is important, therefore, for
the state legislature to use the authority it has to act. While the
states are pre-empted by federal law to directly regulate fuel
efficiency, the legislature can and should adopt a gas guzzler fee, and
other policies which are within its power to adopt, to promote fuel
efficiency.
This year, the state is struggling to fund many important human needs
such as health care and higher education. This fee provides $17 million
more dollars to support urgent state priorities like these. In future
years, we would like to see the fee dedicated to the promotion of zero
and near zero emission vehicles. Should the state’s budget outlook for
next year improve, we ask that the legislature revisit this fee, and
pass legislation to earmark it solely for the promotion of fuel
efficiency.
• Support the “Down Payment” to Maintain and Improve the State Parks:
NJPIRG
also supports the $40 million set aside for capital funds dedicated to
New Jersey’s state parks. Preserving and maintaining our state parks,
forests and wildlife areas is critical to clean water, wildlife
habitat, quality of life and our economy. In fact, it is estimated that
$2.2 billion is expended annually on wildlife recreation in New Jersey,
supporting over 35,000 jobs. Keeping that in mind, $40 million is only
the first payment toward funding the $250 million needed for park
capital and maintenance and establishing a stable source of funding in
the long-term for future generations. We urge the legislature to pass
the $40 million in capital funds as part of this year’s budget and to
also work to pass a ballot question of approximately $200 million in
annual funding for capital repairs, capital improvements and operations
for our state parks.
• Pass a Water Tax that Funds Open Space Preservation:
And
finally, NJPIRG supports a water supply surcharge, but only with
assurances that the nearly $100 million in borrowing support that the
surcharge creates will not be used to increase overdevelopment in New
Jersey. The funds should be used first and foremost to prevent sprawl
and protect our critical clean drinking water sources, such as the
Highlands, through land acquisition. The vast majority of the funds
generated from the surcharge, at least 75 percent, should be dedicated
toward open space preservation. None of the funds should support water
interconnections or any other water infrastructure projects that would
funnel development over New Jersey’s remaining open spaces.
