- Over the following 12 months, many climate change bills are set to be put in place in New Jersey, while others are still under consideration.
- Bills include measures focusing on environmental justice, electric school buses, renewable natural gas, clean and cleaner energy, inland flood regulations, low carbon concrete, plastic reduction, electric and water heating, flood disclosure, abandoned boats, invasive species and pension divestment.
- New Jersey citizens should have some of these bills and issues on their radar throughout 2023.
By: NJ.com | January 7, 2023
Environmental justice. Electric buses. Plastic.
There’s no shortage of environmental-related bills and climate change issues at the top of mind for residents and activists across New Jersey heading into 2023. Some bills are still under consideration. Others have already been approved by state lawmakers or signed by Gov. Phil Murphy — and will be put in place in the next 12 months.
Here are a few to have on your radar this year. View the state’s Legislative schedule to see how certain proposals are progressing.
1. Environmental justice
It was signed by the governor in 2020 and requires the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to consider how pollution from certain types of new projects, and facilities seeking to renew environmental permits, could impact communities already vulnerable to contaminants. Specifically, if the DEP discovers that such proposals would have a disproportionate negative impact on the host community, the department is required to reject permit applications for the facility. The law would impact facilities like power plants that generate 10 megawatts or more of electricity, incinerators, sewage treatment plants with a capacity of more than 50 million gallons per day, solid waste facilities, landfills and anything defined as a major source of air pollution under the federal Clean Air Act.
About 348 municipalities with 4.6 million residents will be affected by the new law, according to the state.
An administrative order established by New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn LaTourette in 2021 required the agency to follow the spirit of the law, but the landmark Environmental Justice Law is expected to be officially adopted between February and March 2023.
About 348 municipalities with 4.6 million residents will be affected by the new law, according to the state.
Read more from NJ.com.
