Real Results For New Jersey's Environment
1. Saving New Jersey Waterways
In the last four years, 45 New Jersey waterways have gained the Clean Water Act’s strongest protections, thanks to the advocacy of our staff and members. In 2007, we joined forces with South Jersey residents and the Rutgers Environmental Law Clinic to petition state officials to extend similar safeguards to the Toms River.
2. Stopping Global Warming Starts Here
New Jersey has joined a regional compact to limit global warming pollution from power plants. We helped forge the agreement, and, in 2007, helped convince Gov. Corzine to take the next step: a statewide goal to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions from all the state’s sources.
3. Preserving New Jersey’s Natural Treasures
Northern New Jersey’s beautiful and largely undeveloped Highlands region now enjoys permanent protection, thanks to a 2004 law. We worked with a coalition of local and state groups to win passage of the law.
4. Cleaning Up Dirty Diesel
The emissions of 30,000 diesel transit buses, school buses and diesel trucks in New Jersey will be far cleaner, after we secured voter support for a ballot question that allocates state funds for the cleanup.
5. Promoting A New Energy Future
More of New Jersey’s energy will come from clean, homegrown, renewable sources after state officials approved a new clean energy mandate. We helped win the 20 percent standard and also helped convince Gov. Corzine to establish a goal of improving energy efficiency by 20 percent by 2020.
6. Clean Cars For A Healthier New Jersey
Car-makers are now required to produce more clean, advanced technology cars for sale in New Jersey, which will dramatically reduce pollution from cars, thanks to our determination in getting Gov. McGreevey to sign this landmark legislation—making our state the first to adopt the Clean Cars program in over a decade.
7. Stepping Up Our Water Quality Protections
In 2006, we convinced Gov. Corzine to significantly expand vegetative buffers around all waterways statewide. This new water protection will not only prevent all the state’s waterways from becoming more polluted by encroaching development, but also help prevent flooding, a serious problem in our state.
8. A Toxic-Free Future
We protected children from the serious neurological effects of mercury—one the most toxic and most prevalent chemicals found in our environment—when we convinced the governor to reduce mercury emissions from New Jersey’s power plants by 90 percent.
9. Preserving the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
A bipartisan coalition of 11 New Jersey representatives and senators stood up to the Bush administration and oil and gas industries to protect the Refuge from oil and gas drilling on its pristine North Slope.
10. Stopping the Developers’ Fast Track Law
We, along with a strong coalition of conservation organizations, helped convince Gov. McGreevey to delay the pro-developer Fast Track law.
