This month, the New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance joined over 175 organizations in opposing U.S. Senate Bill 4753, Senators Manchin and Barrasso’s Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024 (EPRA).
Read the full letter below to hear what EJ advocates have to say about the dangers of this legislation’s impact on
On September 19, NJEJA submitted a letter to the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission’s Commissioners expressing our deep opposition to the proposal of a fourth power plant in the Ironbound Community of Newark, New Jersey. We stand in solidarity with the residents of the Ironbound in opposing this plant as it will contribute to local air pollution, exacerbate risks to negative health outcomes, and continue a reliance on fossil fuels when a rapid transition to renewables is deeply needed.
On July 30, the Equitable and Just National Climate Platform submitted a letter to Senators Joe Manchin and John Barasso regarding their 2024 permitting reform bill. The bill, if enacted, would risk EJ priorities under the IRA and risk increasing oil and gas lease sales, as well as drilling and mining projects. Instead, investments should prioritize clean, renewable transmission infrastructure.
For questions regarding NJEJA’s position and related policy concern, please contact Brooke Helmick, Director of Policy at brooke@njeja.org.
Read the full letter below.
On August 2, 2024, the New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance, along with co-signed allies, submitted comments to U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service regarding the proposed regulations for the 45Y/48E Clean Energy Tax Credits.
This federal funding will be an integral component in the Just Transition and funding clean energy in the United States. However, as these credits are designed to be technology-neutral (i.e. no one particular type of energy production is to be favored), there is a risk that these credits may be granted to facilities which do not truly produce clean energy and pose a risk to the surrounding communities.
We submit these comments to: (1) urge the Dept. of the Treasury and the IRS to center environmental justice, (2) incorporate GHG co-pollutants into the emissions calculations, (3) expand the emissions calculations, (4) include a geographical analysis in the alternative fates analysis, (5) exclude polluting combustion and gasification facilities from the list of qualified facilities as they cannot demonstrate a zero emissions mode of production, and (6) address EJ concerns with carbon captures. All of these changes can bring significant protections to environmental justice communities and greatly reduce the risk of harm.
For questions regarding NJEJA’s position and related policy concern, please contact Brooke Helmick, Director of Policy at brooke@njeja.org.
Read our full comments below:
On July 12, 2024, the New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance submitted comments to U.S. Department of Energy on their draft Environmental Justice Strategic Plan to vocalize the environmental justice perspective and offer a new angle for the DOE to review, develop, and carry-out their strategic plan for community engagement and energy planning.
These comments highlighted our view of environmental justice and laid out grounding principles for this definition, as well as drawing a connection between environmental justice and the necessity of robust community engagement. We close our comments with a case study applying these principles: the MACH-2 project and hydrogen hubs.
As we write in our comments, “we continue to offer support in building a more resilient, renewable energy infrastructure and energy economy, both in New Jersey and across the United States.”
For questions regarding NJEJA’s position and related policy concern, please contact Brooke Helmick, Director of Policy at brooke@njeja.org.
Read our full comments below:
On July 12, 2024, New Jersey environmental justice organizations, the New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance, Ironbound Community Corportation, and Southward Environmental Alliance, submitted joint comments to the U.S. Coast Guard in order to continue vocalizing opposition to the proposed New Jersey Turnpike expansion project.
These comments highlight grave concerns regarding negative environmental and climate impacts, subsequent health impacts, and disproportionate burdens to environmental justice communities. Our concerns are grounded in a desire to protect our communities from adverse health impacts as a result of toxic air pollution, increased emissions of greenhouse gases and co-pollutants, and the cumulative impacts of living in environmental justice communities which host multiple polluting projects.
We stand firm in the knowledge that there are better alternatives than expanding the turnpike and that any project must acknowledge, center, and meaningful address the risks to environmental justice communities before being allowed to move forward. Furthermore, there must be intentional and substantive community engagement processes in order to be considered.
For questions regarding NJEJA’s position and related policy concern, please contact Brooke Helmick, Director of Policy at brooke@njeja.org.
Read our full comments below:
Do you have concerns with waste management in your community? We invite you to join our community listening session to share your experiences with waste-related injustices.
Why Attend?
Event Details:
Register Here: tinyurl.com/EJListensICC
For more information, please contact Chris Tandazo (they/them) at Chris@njeja.org or (973) 807-6587.
Join the NJDEP Office of Environmental Justice for this Environmental Justice Community Engagement Session in Mercer County. Share your concerns with the DEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette and EP Region 2 Regional Administrator Lisa Garcia.
Attend in-person or virtually via Zoom. Translation is available in Spanish and Haitian Creole.
For questions and comments, please contact Brooke Helmick, Director of Policy at brooke@njeja.org.
Join this meeting as part of the Title V Operating Permit renewal application process for the Safety-Kleen Systems, Inc. facility in Linden. As part of this process, this facility has submitted an Environmental Impact Statement. Read the statement here.
Attend the hearing to learn more information about local impacts, ask questions, and make a public comment. Join this hearing via this link here with access code 2431 053 0733.
The public comment period will close on Wednesday, June 25.
For questions and comments, please contact Brooke Helmick, Director of Policy at brooke@njeja.org.
Join us for an art build event in preparation for the March for Clean Air on April 20th.
When: Friday, April 12th from 3pm-7pm
Where: 432 Lafayette Street, Newark, NJ 07105
Why: Get creative and make a statement about the importance of clean air for our community and oppose the proposal for a fourth power plant in Newark.
Registration Link: http://tinyurl.com/EJartbuild
We’ll have all the supplies you need to create your masterpiece, as well as food, music, and great vibes to keep you inspired. Whether you’re an experienced artist or just looking to try something new, this event is open to everyone who wants to make a difference.
Come out and join us as we raise awareness and show our support for clean air. Don’t miss this opportunity to be a part of something meaningful and impactful.
For questions or concerns, please contact Chris Tandazo at chris@njeja.org or 973-807-6587.
