Environmental Policies

Environment New Jersey Research and Policy Center released a report predicting all sorts of doom and gloom for New Jersey unless the state establishes a mandatory cap on carbon emissions, institutes a moratorium on new coal-fired power plants and creates a long-term emissions reduction plan that would ensure an 80 percent reduction in green house gases by 2050.

Interestingly, there’s not a scientist on Environment New Jersey Research and Policy Center’s staff, although report writer Suzanne Leta Liou did take a college course in statistics. She also leads the group’s campaign to close Oyster Creek nuclear power plant, undeterred by the fact New Jersey relies on nuclear energy for about 50 percent of the state's electricity.

Electricity generation accounts for the largest portion of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions, nearly 40 percent. Because the Garden Sate relies so heavily on nuclear power, New Jersey ranks 47th in the nation in per capita emissions from electric power generation. New Jersey ranks 18th in greenhouse gas emissions related to transportation and accounts for about half the state's total carbon dioxide emissions.

We figure the state’s strategy to reduce carbon dioxide emissions is to drive jobs and people out of New Jersey though high taxes and other policies ruinous to the state’s economy. It seems to be working.