Trump’s Offshore Wind Farm Cancellations Won’t Hold Up in Court
It is expected that the states will seek an injunction to prevent the DOI from enforcing the cancellations while legal action is pending. But in the meantime, the lease cancellations are disruptive in multiple ways. They undermine the states’ economies, grid reliability, diversification of energy resources, growth of union jobs, and access to clean, affordable energy.
By Chris Hitchcock • Chapter Legal Advisor
Amazon’s Delaware River Data Center Doesn’t Comply With Clean Air Act
Spanning 3 million square feet across 10 buildings, the project poses severe threats to regional air and water quality.
By Kathleen (Kip) P. Cherry, PP, AICP • Conservation Chair, Central Jersey Group
Your Votes Matter in This Election
The stakes for the 2026 congressional election couldn’t be higher. Every year, drastic climate action becomes more and more necessary.
By Ricardo Pereira • Chapter Political Chair
ExCom Candidate Bios and Statements
The following five candidates are running for three available three-year terms on the Executive Committee of the New Jersey Chapter of the Sierra Club in the 2026 election.
How the US–Iran Conflict Affects New Jersey
One of the most urgent needs of our time is to make visible how events unfolding in one part of the world can shape lives in another. In much of the Western world view, isolationism and territorial boundaries leave little room for true interconnectedness—or for understanding the real consequences, especially devastating ones, that flow from it.
By Disha Rao
Technology vs. Humans
It’s a crazy world when billions of people are allowed to make individual decisions about how much to produce and consume and what size carbon footprint they can leave upon the planet. People have always thought technology could outpace the problems we create for ourselves. It turns out that this was just a jingle invented by Madison Avenue. Technology is now outpacing us.
By Tony Hagen • editor@newjersey.sierraclub.org
What’s Going on Here, Anyway?
From time to time, you might read in a daily newspaper or online that the Sierra Club has filed a lawsuit regarding a fossil fuel infrastructure project or has been involved in supporting or opposing a bill in the state Legislature. This is only the tip of the iceberg in how the staff and volunteers in the New Jersey Chapter are working behind the scenes every day to support the mission of the Club.
By Joe Testa • chapter.chair@newjersey.sierraclub.org
Generate Solar Electricity on Your Balcony!
On June 30, 2026, the NJ Assembly and Senate unanimously passed the Garden State Balcony Solar Act (S2368/A4836), allowing “plug-in” solar. The act is expected to be signed by Gov. Mikie Sherrill and would go into effect six months later.
By Steve Miller • Building Electrification Team
Time for AI to Foot Its Own Energy Bill
The surge in electricity demand from AI data centers is pushing up the cost of maintaining enough power-generating capacity across the PJM Interconnection grid. In PJM’s latest auction, data-center demand was responsible for an estimated $6.3 billion of the $16.4 billion in capacity costs that customers will ultimately pay—for just the 2028-29 delivery year.
By George Moffatt • Education Chair, Jersey Shore Group
Can New Jersey Restore Its Old-Growth Forests?
Old-growth forests (trees 150-plus years old) store double the carbon of younger, “even-growth” forests (trees mostly 40-90 years old). Unfortunately, as the NJ State Forest Action Plan 2020 (SFAP) notes, less than 1% of New Jersey’s remaining forests are old-growth.
By John Miraglia • Raritan Valley Group
The Threats to Our National Parks
Yes, the good news is these parks are well worth a visit. The bad news is that they may not always remain so. Behind the scenes are stressed employees whose numbers have been cut. Inside Climate News reported that 2,750 National Park Service employees were fired in the first 11 months of Trump’s second term.
By Gary Frederick • Conservation Chair, Raritan Valley Group
Support the Sierra Club
While we don’t have a catchy jingle, we humbly suggest that you donate your old car to Sierra Club Foundation, for the benefit of the New Jersey Chapter. We also accept boats, motorcycles, trucks, and RVs.
It’s really easy to do. Just call 855-337-4377 or visit scfch.careasy.org/index.html
By Jim Andreano • Fundraising Committee Chair, Jimandreano@gmail.com
Chris Russo for Morris County Commissioner View Edit Delete Revisions
Throughout his time on the Morristown Council, Chris Russo has supported policies that recognize conservation as an investment in Morris County’s future.
By Richard Isaac • Loantaka Group Chair
Save Eagle Rock From Invasive Plants and Trees
Eagle Rock Reservation, one of the Essex County Parks designed by the Olmsted brothers in 1903, is a 400-acre suburban forest that is being overwhelmed by invasive plants.
By Ron Pate • Outings Chair, Gateway Group
Transportation Chair’s Report: Bill Beren
Topics include:
- Fast Chargers Populate NJ Toll Roads
- NJ Transit Less Reliable
- In Memorium: Greg Tufaro
Data Centers Threaten Our Environment
The discovery and mass generation of electricity, the invention of internal combustion engines, and the deployment of atomic energy—all of these have been double-edged swords which have benefitted and “wrecked” our global society.
By Eric Hausker • Conservation Chair, Loantaka Group
New Jersey Can Plug Into Clean Energy
There are alternative strategies that can be utilized to defer or avoid expensive grid upgrades
By Greg Gorman • Chair of the Conservation Committee
Hamilton Reports: Sierra Club Professional Staff
Topics include:
- Balcony Solar Can Offset Home Power Needs
- Sierra Club Urges Government Leaders to Protect Keyport
- Green Acres Bill Would Prohibit Artificial Turf
- Governor Signs Key Bills on Data Centers, Energy
- NJ Leaders Demand a Grid That Answers to Ratepayers
- NJ Delays Vital Climate Rules and Legislation