For Immediate Release
Contact: Anjuli Ramos-Busot, anjuli.ramos@sierraclub.org
Today, the Sierra Club New Jersey Chapter testified at the NJDEP’s public hearing on its Control and Prohibition of Carbon Dioxide Emissions Rule, which is part of the NJ Protecting Against Climate Threats (PACT) rulemaking process. This is supposed to be one of the biggest and most important rules for New Jersey to reach its climate change goals, but the coalition argues that the rule doesn’t go nearly far enough.
“New Jersey is in urgent need of CO2 regulation. In theory, this rule is the best opportunity for the NJDEP to achieve the easiest and cheapest greenhouse gas emissions reduction possible, but it is too weak. If this rule is not significantly strengthened, NJ will miss its opportunity to impactfully reduce greenhouse gas emissions and its State climate goals,” said Anjuli Ramos-Busot, New Jersey Director for Sierra Club. “If our best way at regulating the electric generating sector is to allow the construction of new gas-fired power plants, then we really don’t have a chance at mitigating climate change. We are experiencing a climate emergency, and storms and sea-level rise will not wait for us to transition our way through unnecessary natural gas. NJDEP has to step up their game for the sake of our people and the environment.”
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