PRESS RELEASE FROM GOVERNOR’S OFFICE:
TRENTON – Governor Jon S. Corzine was named one of the nation’s top ten “Greenest Governors” by Greenopia, an online directory of eco-friendly retailers, services, and organizations. The Governor, who ranked ninth, was recognized for his Energy Master Plan, a renewable energy plan that “trumps most other states,” as well as for his efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
“I’m pleased to be in the company of these nine governors who are taking bold steps to preserve the environment in their home states,” Governor Corzine said. “Our efforts here in New Jersey, from reducing greenhouse gas emissions to harvesting off-shore wind power, will secure New Jersey’s environmental and energy future and move our state toward being more energy independent.”
In 2007, Governor Corzine signed an executive order to mandate a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, and an 80-percent reduction by 2050, goals which he signed into law later that year with the legislature’s passage of the Global Warming Response Act. New Jersey became only the third state in the nation to codify its greenhouse gas reduction goals. Just over a year ago, Governor Corzine signed a bill into law enabling New Jersey to participate in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, the first mandatory cap-and-trade program in the nation for carbon dioxide.
His aggressive Energy Master Plan, the first in 15 years, includes plans for maximizing the State’s energy conservation and energy efficiency to achieve reductions in energy consumption of at least 20% by 2020; reducing peak demand for electricity by 5,700 MW by 2020; achieving 30% of the State’s electricity needs from renewable sources by 2020 and investing in innovative clean-energy technologies and businesses to stimulate the industry’s growth in New Jersey. The plan also calls for harnessing offshore energy resources located on the Outer Continental Shelf putting New Jersey in a race to be the first state in the country with Off-Shore Wind.
In addition, New Jersey currently has the second highest number of photovoltaic installations in the nation, surpassed only by California with more than 80 MW from 4000 installations. New Jersey has also successfully transitioned from a rebate-dependant solar program to a market-based program with the adoption of the state’s Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC). Under Governor Corzine, New Jersey was the first state to carve out a solar set aside in its renewable portfolio standard (RPS) contributing to the State’s solar success.
The top ten “Green Governors” include 1) Bill Ritter, Colorado; 2) Arnold Schwarzenegger, California; 3) Ted Kulongowski, Oregon ; 4) Christine Gregoire, Washington; 5) John Baldacci, Maine; 6) Martin O’Malley, Maryland; 7) Bill Richardson, New Mexico; 8) James Douglas, Vermont; 9) Jon Corzine, New Jersey; 10) Jodi Rell, Connecticut.
Lower Township – Who are these people that are obvious experts on trash cans and leaf pick-up? Maybe they don't have any trash to put out or leaves in their yard!!
