NJEJA Supports CJA’s Letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Committee

On July 19, the Climate Justice Alliance submitted a letter to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations to voice opposition to a House spending bill which contained more than 80 poison-pill riders, would undercut environmental justice protections, and undermine advancements in equity and inclusion. NJEJA joined our colleagues at the Climate Justice Alliance as well as key allies in signing on and offering our support to CJA for this letter.

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.

EJNCF Letter on Permitting ReformDownload

NJEJA Signs On To EJNCF Letter on 2024 Permitting Reform

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.

EJNCF Letter on Permitting ReformDownload

NJEJA Submits Comments on the 45Y/48E Tax Credits

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:

NJEJA-Re-REG-119283-23_Section45Y-48EDownload

NJEJA Submits Comments to the Department of Energy on the Environmental Justice Strategic Plan

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:

NJEJA_DOE EJ Strategic Plan RFIDownload

NJEJA Statement on Fourth Power Plant In Newark

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 9, 2024

Press Contact

Melissa Miles, Executive Director | melissa@njeja.org 

 

NJEJA Calls Upon PVSC To Reject Power Plant Proposal: New Jersey Residents Should Have Clean Air Regardless of Zip Code

 

Newark, New Jersey – The New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance, a statewide organization dedicated to reducing and eliminating environmental injustices in communities of color and low-income communities, opposes Governor Murphy’s decision to approve a fourth power plant in the City of Newark and calls upon the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commissioners to reject the proposal. 

The approval of the plan, which will burn natural gas, only extends New Jersey’s reliance on fossil fuels and directly contradicts the state’s clean energy goals. Furthermore, the impact of a fourth plant in the Ironbound community, and Newark as a whole, will have detrimental effects on local air pollution. Any additional power plants, even those that have outlined steps to decrease their emissions, risks increasing greenhouse gas emissions, and co-pollutants emissions which increases local air pollution. The power plant represents not only an environmental injustice, but a threat to public health.  

We stand in solidarity with our community members, elected officials, and community-based organizations who have opposed this project. We demand clean air for all New Jersey residents, and call on the Murphy administration and the Commissioners to ensure that clean air is available to all, not just certain zip codes. 

 

“For months, if not years, the residents of Newark have opposed the construction of an additional power plant in their city due to valid health concerns. The state should listen to them and not build this plant.”

Dr. Nicky Sheats, Esq.
Chair of the Board, New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance
Director of the Center for the Urban Environment at the John S. Watson Institute for Urban Policy and Research at Kean University

 

“We understand that our adversary here is environmental racism and capital, which continue to put profit over people. Better solutions to fossil-burning power plants exist and we need the PVSC Commissioners to prioritize clean energy for the health and well-being of the East Ward community.”

Melissa Miles
Executive Director, New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance 

 

“The decision to move forward with this project, despite vocal opposition from community members, public officials, and community-based organizations, demonstrates that community members have not been treated as equal stakeholders in this process. Communities must be centered in this decision making process and residents have been clear: Newark does not need or want another power plant.”

Brooke Helmick 
Director of Policy, New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance

 

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The New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance is an alliance of New Jersey-based organizations and individuals working together to identify, prevent, and reduce and/or eliminate environmental injustices that exist in communities of color and low-income communities. NJEJA will support community efforts to remediate and rebuild impacted neighborhoods, using the community’s vision of improvement, through education, advocacy, the review and promulgation of public policies, training, and through organizing and technical assistance.

VIEW Press Release PDF

Environmental Justice Concerns with Carbon Capture and Hydrogen Co-Firing in the Power Sector

Read the latest report on Environmental Justice Concerns with Carbon Capture and Hydrogen Co-Firing in the Power Sector, prepared in partnership with the New School Tishman Environment and Design Center, Center for the Urban Environment of the John S. Watson Institute for Urban Policy and Research at Kean University, and the Center for Earth, Energy, and Democracy.

CCS & EJ White PaperDownload

For questions, please reach out to Brooke Helmick, Director of Policy at brooke@njeja.org.

A Quick Guide to Hydrogen Production and Hydrogen Co-Firing

As the country sees a proliferation of hydrogen fuel projects through both private and public investment, NJEJA has developed this fact sheet to explain hydrogen fuel production, the risks to our communities, and how to understand the “colors” for each type of hydrogen.

NJEJA-Hydrogen-Factsheet-2024Download

For questions, please reach out to Brooke Helmick, Director of Policy at brooke@njeja.org.

NJEJA Applauds Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind Project Approval: Clean Renewable Energy Development Benefits Everyone

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 9, 2024

Press Contacts

Melissa Miles, Executive Director | melissa@njeja.org 

Brooke Helmick, Director of Policy | brooke@njeja.org

 

NJEJA Applauds Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind Project Approval: Clean Renewable Energy Development Benefits Everyone

 

Newark, New Jersey – The New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance, a statewide organization dedicated to reducing and eliminating environmental injustices in communities of color and low-income communities, applauds the recent decision to approve the Atlantic Shores offshore wind energy project. 

 

The approval will lead to the development of the nation’s ninth commercial-scale offshore wind project and generate up to 2,800 megawatts of clean electricity, and is expected to power nearly one million homes. The program can support the state of New Jersey in reaching its clean energy goals. Such clean energy programs not only support the movement to divest from fossil fuels but also support the work of mitigating local air pollution and providing cleaner air for all communities, particularly those disproportionately burdened by energy production. 

 

As this program rolls out, we encourage state and federal officials to prioritize the principles of a Just Transition and continue meaningful engagement with local communities — particularly communities Of Color and low-income communities, who will be directly impacted by this infrastructure and development. We offer our continued support and expertise in ensuring that environmental justice communities are centered and prioritized in the future of clean energy development. 


Learn more about the New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance and our work in equipping our communities with the tools needed for a career in offshore wind.

 

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For questions regarding this statement, please contact Brooke Helmick, NJEJA Director of Policy at brooke@njeja.org. 

The New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance is an alliance of New Jersey-based organizations and individuals working together to identify, prevent, and reduce and/or eliminate environmental injustices that exist in communities of color and low-income communities. NJEJA will support community efforts to remediate and rebuild impacted neighborhoods, using the community’s vision of improvement, through education, advocacy, the review and promulgation of public policies, training, and through organizing and technical assistance.

VIEW Press Release PDF

Comments to the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council on Carbon Management

On June 19, the New jersey Environmental Justice Alliance submitted comments to the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council (WHEJAC) regarding carbon management. NJEJA highlighted the risks of CCS and hydrogen co-firing, the necessity of directing federal funding towards communities and sustainable, renewable technologies, and recommending increased oversight, transparency, and accountability in DOE project development. Click here to read more about the WHEJAC.

Read our full comments below:

WHEJAC-Comments-NJEJA-June-2024Download

NJEJA and ICC Submit Comments on the Energy Master Plan

On June 12, the New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance and the Ironbound Community Corporation submitted public comment to the Board of Public Utilities regarding the 2024 Energy Master Plan. These comments reflect a joint effort to decrease emissions in the state of New Jersey and facilitate to swift transition to affordable truly-clean energy for everyone, particularly low- and moderate-income and EJ communities. Click here read other public comments and view the BPU’s docket.

Read our full comments below:

NJEJA-ICC_EMP-CommentsDownload