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Jan. 8-14
Auto Insurance Up 20%
Auto insurance prices soared in 2023, up 20.3% in December from 2022 levels. It was the largest annual gain since 1976, the Insurance Journal reports. For New Jersey drivers the news hits hard since the state is 45th in the nation in terms of affordability of auto insurance.
What are the factors impacting the rise in premiums?
Car and parts prices shot up during the pandemic. Bad driving behavior increased, as well, leading to more accidents. The cost of parts, supply chain difficulties and an increase in claims all led to rising premium levels.
The time it takes for insurance companies to gain regulatory approval for the hikes is also a factor. Many increases we are seeing in 2024 have their roots in 2020 behavior.
Of course, average increases are just that, averages. What factors in New Jersey most influence individual premium levels?
The things that factor into your rate include location, age, driving record, credit score, the deductible you are willing to live with and type of car.
How much more will premiums rise in 2024? Carinsurance.com predicts 10% on top of the spike we have already seen.
We reported recently on the skyrocketing rise in home insurance premiums due to higher levels of claims, higher replacement costs and concerns over climate change impact.
The bundling home and auto is likely to get much more expensive in the short term.
Need for Fossil Fuels
With all the hype about the need for a speedy transition to renewable sources of power, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory just released a report placing an emphasis on the role that fossil fuels, especially natural gas, will continue to play “to provide grid resilience and reliability.”
The report continues to stress the progress that needs to be made on renewables for the generation of electricity, but it frankly admits that fossil generators without carbon capture will play a larger role in “providing firm capacity.” Firm capacity means adequate capacity to meet peak demand points, especially when other supply units are out of service. The report also states that “wind and solar generally have low capacity credits as their output is often low during the most demanding hours on the grid.”
The report makes clear that scenarios for future power generation need to take into account various measures of increase in electricity demand growth due to electrification plans.
According to the Energy Information Administration, New Jersey currently gets 49% of its electric generation from natural gas. Nuclear contributes another 42%. Scenarios for the future need to ensure the availability of fossil fuel generated power. The report states that natural gas capacity nationally has to increase by 2050 even in scenarios where renewables “make up the majority of new capacity.”
New Vaccine Recommendations
As a wave of respiratory illness washes over the nation this winter, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued new recommendations for vaccinations. The CDC said it was concerned that low vaccination rates this season are contributing to the spread of illness.
CDC vaccination trends show that about 45% of adults have received a flu shot this season, 19% have had the updated Covid vaccination and 18% of those over 60 have received the RSV shot.
A panel of health experts comprise the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. The group sets the year’s recommended vaccine schedules for adults and children. The schedules were released in preliminary form in November and recently published in final form.
A new addition this year is the Mpox vaccine, the new, less pejorative name for monkeypox.
At a minimum the CDC recommends the following for the 2023-2024 respiratory disease season: All individuals 6 months old and older should get the influenza vaccination and the Covid vaccination.
Is it too late? The CDC says it is better to get the vaccine late than to skip it entirely, but public resistance to the vaccines remains.
The National Foundation for Infectious Disease states, “The demand for concerted efforts to increase adult vaccination rates is clear.”
Happenings
Wildwood has made Clerk Lisa Brown the temporary business administrator after the governing body elected not to offer a new contract to previous administrator Steve O’Connor.
Sea Isle City Council heard from several residents who opposed a proposed $200 hike in the fee for seasonal parking permits. Council adopted an increase but cut it to $100.
Avalon will have a back passing project in 2024, as the borough seeks to truck new sand from around 35th Street to eroded beaches in its north end.
Plans to locate a cannabis retail store in a North Cape May shopping center has sparked questions about the appropriateness of the location.
Sea Isle City redirected $2.2 million in unused capital funds to the construction project for the city’s planned community center. At the same governing body meeting the city adopted its new five-year capital plan and introduced an $11 million bond ordinance for 2024.
Gov. Phil Murphy issued a conditional veto of a bill that would have set new fines for underage possession and use of alcohol.
Commissioner Will Morey was not pleased with departmental assignments at the reorganization meeting for the county commissioners.
Murphy declared a state of emergency in advance of winter storms rolling into the state from the west. The storms produced extensive flooding in parts of the state.
Allaire Health Services has taken over the operation of the Crest Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center as the privatization of the previously county-operated facility takes shape.
Former longtime Herald General Manager Gary Rudy comes to the end of his life without regrets.
A Del Haven resident’s connection to his pet turtles is so strong he is offering a $2,000 reward for the location of his lost yellow-bellied slider turtle.
Protect Our Coast New Jersey urges vigilance in the struggle to defeat what it calls the industrialization of our ocean. The nonprofit’s latest battle is with pending federal approval of harassment of sea mammals as part of Atlantic Shores I wind farm development.
A Marmora resident was found shot in Atlantic City, making him the fourth person killed in the city since New Year’s Day. While executing a search warrant, Wildwood Crest police took two individuals into custody for possession of controlled dangerous substances and intent to distribute.
The Woodbine Planning Board approved a retail cannabis use in the borough’s airport zone. This paves the way for Seaweed Land LLC to seek a state license from the state Cannabis Regulatory Commission.
Spout Off of the Week
North Cape May – Thank you so much to the volunteers who gave their time to take down ornaments off the trees decorated along the road to Douglass Park. We were unable to get there due to illness. Is it possible to be put in contact with those who volunteered so we can pick up our ornaments? Thank you to all who took part in what is becoming a great holiday tradition!
Read more spouts at spoutoff.capemaycountyherald.com.
