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Christie responds, defending his policies
"D" is the grade Gov. Chris Christie received Thursday on his environmental record from the non-profit New Jersey Environmental Federation.
NJEF activists said they combed through a range of environmental issues, actions, and policies to make the grading. While scoring well on some individual assignments like his opposition to offshore drilling, liquid natural gas plants, and support for offshore wind, the governor’s highest subject grade was a C-.
Christie received D’s on energy, clean water, appointments, open space, and environmental values, and an F in climate change.
The grades are a change from two and half years ago when the NJEF endorsed Christie for governor, the first time the organization had ever endorsed a Republican gubernatorial candidate. Activists said Christie in a series of interviews with board members at the time convincingly portrayed himself as a staunch environmental champion, and made a series of campaign promises to back that up.
Activists said Thursday the governor has strayed far from candidate Christie. In reviewing 39 of the most important issues facing New Jersey, the Christie performed poorly – receiving “poor” or failing marks on 28 points.
“Coming out of the gate, the governor appeared relatively on course,” Sharon Finlayson, who chairs NJEF’s Vote Environment Committee, said. “Unfortunately after two and half years, there has been a continual and steady decline in his environmental policy making. Coincidental or not, his environmental platform and commitments began to evaporate as his national stardom rose.”
Finlayson added that it is part of the endorsement process to offer praise when it is deserved, and to hold elected officials accountable when they do not live up to their campaign commitments.
"Governor Christie has a positive record of environmental accomplishments," Larry Ragonese, a state Department of Environmental Protection spokesman, said. "Since taking office, Governor Christie – in concert with DEP Commissioner Bob Martin - has proven his commitment to protecting New Jersey’s air, and has taken decisive action to curb harmful emissions.
"The governor has committed to renewable energy to help protect New Jersey’s environment while also promoting economic growth," Ragonese added. "In addition, the Governor has acted on his strong commitment to protect New Jersey’s beaches and waterways. The New Jersey Environmental Federation obviously ignored some of the administration’s positive environmental accomplishments and efforts. That’s too bad because many of these accomplishments are items the Federation has favored or supported."
Christie publicly told NJEF last year that it was its job to tell him how he is doing on the environment and hold him accountable to his commitments. In releasing the report card, Finlayson concluded that NJEF is doing its job, but maintained the governor is not.
Some of the Christie’s highest scores on offshore energy issues are offset by what poor positions on land-based energy including coal, natural gas and diesel. On clean water, he received failing grades for efforts to dismantle the Highlands Act and failure to fulfill his promise to better protect the state's most important waterways, and a 'poor' on Barnegat Bay despite his well-publicized 10 point plan due to loopholes and poor implementation. On climate change, the governor got an "F" for not only abandoning his commitment to more aggressively implement the 2008 Energy Master Plan and 2007 Global Warming Response Act, but also for taking steps to weaken them. He also diverted nearly $680 million of dedicated ratepayer money away from Clean Energy Fund.
Setting lower goals, advocating for more dirty power, and wavering on the impact of man’s contribution to climate change is bad enough,” NJEF Board Member Ben Forest said. “But, he unilaterally withdrew from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) – costing New Jersey tens of millions of dollars, badly needed jobs, and more pollution.”
Activists said Christie could turn the D around to an A, and offered the organization’s support for doing that.
“There is absolutely no satisfaction whatsoever in giving the governor a D,” NJEF Board Chair Janet Tauro said. “This bad grade affects all of us; the environment, our health, and the well being of future generations. He has to improve his record during his remaining time in office because New Jersey deserves nothing less. We’re here to help him or hold him accountable, it’s his choice.”
To view the entire report, visit www.cleanwateraction.org/reportcardnj.
Ragonese offered details of what he described as Christie's environmental accomplishments:
• Enacted a comprehensive 10-point initiative to restore and protect Barnegat Bay
Restored beach replenishment funding to its full level;
Enacted budgets that keep all parks, historic sites and wildlife operations running;
Signed legislation appropriating $1.5 billion in zero- and low-cost loans for water and sewer infrastructure projects;
Signed legislation appropriating $157 million for open space across New Jersey;
Maintained unwavering opposition to drilling offshore New Jersey;
Maintained unwavering opposition to liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities off of New Jersey's coastline.
• Enacted the most restrictive standards in the nation for nitrogen content in fertilizer and application rates for use, which will reduce nutrient pollution in Barnegat Bay and statewide;
• Enacted law to reduce post-construction soil compaction to reduce stormwater runoff and nonpoint source pollution in Barnegat Bay and all of New Jersey's waterways;
• Adopted a narrative nutrient criteria rule to establish rigorous water quality standards;
• Stated a policy of no new coal-fired power plants in NJ, which will reduce pollutants deposited to waterways;
• Created a Barnegat Bay Water Quality Monitoring Network to obtain scientific data on pollutants entering the Bay
• Continued to advocate a strong position against the dredging project to deepen the Delaware River;
• Signed legislation creating a free State saltwater fishing registry in New Jersey
The Christie administration Is Pursuing Legal Action Against One Of The Most Polluting Power Plants In The Nation at Homer City Station, a 1,884-megawatt power plant in western Pennsylvania that is one of the most polluting power plants in the nation. The administration also is targeting Allegheny Energy Inc. and its subsidiaries in western Pennsylvania..
The administration Successfully Petitioned The EPA To Force A Pennsylvania Power Plant To Reduce Harmful Emissions:
EPA approved New Jersey’s Clean Air Act petition and will force a Pennsylvania coal-fired power plant to dramatically reduce harmful air pollutants. It will reduce air emissions from the GenOn Energy power plant in Portland, Pennsylvania, which currently spews more than 30,000 tons of sulfur dioxide (SO2), plus mercury into the air across the Delaware River.
Christie Issued Executive Order to Reduce Diesel Emissions At Construction Sites:
Christie signed Executive Order No. 60 that targets air pollution caused by diesel engines used on major transportation construction projects with the ultimate goal of improving air quality for those living near construction sites.
The administration Took Action To Reduce Sulfur Content In Home Heating Oil:
The administration has taken an important step toward improving air quality and protecting public health in New Jersey by adopting rules requiring significant reductions in sulfur content for home heating oil and other types of fuel oil used in the state:
New Jersey’s First-In-The-Nation Grant Program:
The Christie Administration’s first-in-the-nation grant program finances replacement of dry cleaning machines that use harmful chemicals with new, environmentally friendly models.
CHRISTIE’S COMMITMENT TO RENEWABLE ENERGY:
• Christie’s 2011 Energy Master Plan commits to no new coal-fired plants in New Jersey, ensuring that new generation capacity comes from cleaner sources.
• New Jersey is 1st in the nation for installed commercial solar capacity.
• New Jersey has the 7th highest Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard in the nation at 22.5%.
• New Jersey has 14,529 solar energy projects installed across the state providing over 689 MW of installed capacity.
Solar Achievements:
• For the first quarter of 2012, New Jersey installed 1,786 solar projects, with a capacity of 165MW, an 570% increase since Christie took office;
• New Jersey is home to the largest rooftop solar array in the country, Gloucester Marine Terminal, at 9MW, 1 million square feet of panels, $42 million project, which powers 80% of the port’s refrigeration and freezer warehouses;
• New Jersey Meadowlands Commission has completed construction on the project to transform a closed landfill into a productive solar farm.
Wind achievements:
• Accelerated development of offshore wind projects through close coordination with the federal government to speed implementation of at least 1,100 MW of wind turbines;
• Joined with the federal government and fellow East Coast states to establish the Offshore Wind Consortium to promote commercial wind development on the Outer Continental Shelf of the East Coast;
• Provided "areas of interest" to the US Department of the Interior, enabling the subsequent federal "Call for Nominations" for wind project leases off the Jersey coast, which garnered 11 project proposals representing a combined 12,500 megawatts of green energy capacity;
• Signed the Offshore Wind Economic Development Act to provide financial assistance and tax credits to businesses that construct manufacturing, assembly and water access facilities that support offshore wind projects;
• Completed a first-of-its-kind, two-year baseline study that identifies environmentally optimal sites for offshore wind turbines.
--TOM HESTER SR., NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
