TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey Governor-Elect Phil Murphy will assume office on January 16, 2018. His new administration is expected to address several key environmental and energy issues including:
Renewable Energy – New Jersey is a net exporter of energy. It generates the majority of its electricity from natural gas, nuclear energy, and renewable resources. Governor-Elect Murphy announced support to 100% clean energy sources by 2050, including the following:
- Off-shore wind generation to support 3,500 MW by 2030 to power 1.5 million homes.
- Re-establishing New Jersey as a national leader in solar energy production and job creation. New Jersey was once behind California in installed solar capacity. Jeanne Fox, who was the former President of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, is also on Murphy’s transition team. Fox helped propel New Jersey toward becoming a solar energy leader.
Electrical Infrastructure – Electrifying transportation to cut emissions. Transportation represents 40% of New Jersey’s greenhouse gas emissions. Electric vehicle infrastructure is expected to expand.
Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions – Reducing reliance on fossil fuels and investments in clean energy and energy efficiency. New Jersey is anticipated to rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).
Fracking – The new administration is anticipated to ban fracking and storage of fracking waste in New Jersey. In June 2017, Governor-Elect Murphy supported the Delaware River Basin Commission’s efforts to permanently ban fracking in the Delaware River Basin, which provides water for 15 million people.
Land Use Regulations – Returning New Jersey to a leadership role in smart planning. The new Murphy Administration is likely to re-exam recent land use regulatory changes (including flood hazard, wetlands, waterfront/coastal, and stormwater).
Site Remediation Program – Amendments to the Site Remediation Reform Act enacted in 2009 may be forthcoming. Improving the legislation to address problems related to its implementation was a hot topic during the campaign.
Emerging Contaminants – Setting standards for contaminants of emerging concern. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is anticipated to establish stringent drinking water standards for emerging contaminants of concern such as perfluorooctoanic acid (PFOA) and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA).