CHIVUKULA: CITIZENS' RALLY FOR RGGI REINFORCES CHRISTIE BLUNDER

Assembly Utilities Chairman Calls for Bipartisan Backing of Landmark Measure That Has Advanced A Clean Energy Economy & Supported Thousands of Clean Jobs

(TRENTON) Assembly Utilities Chairman Upendra J. Chivukula, sponsor of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) to reduce global warming pollution and advance the state's clean energy economy commended the citizens of New Jersey for continuing to rally support for the landmark initiative.

The lawmaker called for bipartisan backing in the state Legislature of a measure which has delivered rich dividends to New Jersey by supporting thousands of clean jobs in the region and moving the state towards a responsible energy future.

Local citizens joined Environment New Jersey and nine partners across the state on Thursday at three locations in Princeton, Rutherford and Asbury Park to voice their suport for RGGI and the state's clean energy program it helps fund. They called on lawmakers to support these programs and oppose Gov. Christie's moves to unravel them.

Over the past week, environmental advocates have mobilized an estimated 2,900 calls, letters and petitions in support of RGGI as part of an ongoing grassroots campaign to call on the Governor and lawmakers not to pull out of the regional greenhouse pact. This is in addition to the more than 10,000 emails, petitions and calls in the summer when the Governor first announced plans to pull New Jersey out of the multi-state pact.

Chivukula (D-Somerset\Middlesex) issued the following statement:

"Thousands of citizens continue to weigh in with their support for our state's successful clean energy program and the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative I was proud to sponsor along with Assembly Environment Chairman John F. McKeon;

"Staging a retreat from RGGI would be a tactical blunder;

"The first-of-its-kind regional greenhouse pact has bolstered our state's clean energy economy and delivered significant energy efficiency to industrial and residential ratepayers;

"More than 80 percent of the estimated $886.4 million raised in RGGI auctions have been reinvested in strategic energy progams including clean energy technologies, energy efficiency and the generation of wind and solar;

"As a result of an aggressive clean energy agenda partly funded by RGGI, we recently emerged as the first-in-the-nation in commercial solar installations, having crossed the threshold of 10,000 panels and overtaking California;

"New Jersey is also poised to develop 3000 MW of offshore wind which will help us power more than one million homes through 2020;

"More than 26,114 clean jobs have been generated in our state in the last few years as a result of an overall aggressive clean energy policy of which RGGI has been an important part;

"Pulling out of RGGI would be counterproductive and regressive;

"Why would we want to back away from progress? Why would we want to turn away from success?

"I urge Gov. Christie and fellow lawmakers to heed the call of the people and do what is right for our state and for a responsible energy future by reversing the decision to pull out of RGGI."

McKeon (D-Essex\Morris) and Chivukula plan to push for a legislative override of Gov. Christie's veto of a measure they sponsored to keep New Jersey in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). The measure (A-4108) would require State participation in RGGI and confirms that Gov. Christie's decision to pull out of the multistate compact is inconsistent with legislative intent.

It is also sponsored by Assembly members Linda Stender (D-Union), Peter J. Barnes III (D-Middlesex), Assembly Vice Chairman Reed Gusciora (D-Princeton), and Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen).

RGGI is a multistate cap-and-trade program, which helps implement the mandate of the Global Warming Response Act to reduce New Jersey's carbon footprint to 1990 levels by 2020 and 80 percent below 2008 levels by 2050, by setting a regional cap for the production of carbon dioxide, the main cause of global warming pollution.

Under the regional greenhouse gas pact, entities like power companies are required to purchase pollution allowances if they need to exceed their allocation to meet production targets, while others can trade their unused quotas. Funds raised in the auctions are invested in renewable energy, clean energy technologies and energy efficiency.

Chivukula, McKeon, Stender and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Mercer) sponsored the original RGGI measure (A-4559) for New Jersey to become a part of the regional cooperative and to authorize the auction of greenhouse gas allowances. The legislation also established the Global Warming Solutions Fund into which proceeds from regional auctions are deposited.

Since its enactment in 2008, RGGI is credited with generating $2.3 billion in economic activity in the region. Out of the more than $886 million generated in RGGI auctions so far, New Jersey received $106 million. While $30 million were used for the intended purpose including providing grants for 12 large-scale renewable-energy projects, Gov. Christie raided $65 million to help balance the state budget for the fiscal year 2010-2011.

The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative is a cooperative endeavor among the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont.

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Contact:

Gita Bajaj
(973) 224-4851 cellular
gbajaj@njleg.org email
bajajgita@yahoo.com email