Mercer County EJ Community Engagement Session
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.
Questions at the MACH2 April 10 Listening Session
The New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance has raised significant questions to the MACH2 engagement team both via email and at the April 10 MACH2 Listening Session. During the April 10 Listening Session, our team sent in questions via chat. Due to the number of participants, only one person from NJEJA was put onto the speaking list which was created and shared by OCED prior to the event.
We raise these questions out of deep concern and love for our community. The life cycle of hydrogen production is not only costly and economically inviable, but has not been proven safe for our communities. In fact, in many instances, demonstration tests for hydrogen projects have proved to be dangerous, unsustainable, and not effective projects. Furthermore, regardless of whether or not the hydrogen produced is “green” (I.e. hydrogen theoretically created from entirely renewable technology), it poses the same risks during transportation, storage, and end use as hydrogen created from fossil fuels.
In an effort to increase transparency and get these questions answered, please see the concerns that NJEJA has raised to the MACH2 team regarding the structure, function, intention, and infrastructural development of the MACH2 project.
Questions for the MACH2 Community Engagement Team
The New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance has raised significant questions to the MACH2 engagement team both via email and at the April 10 MACH2 Listening Session. We are deeply concerned about the level of community engagement and the claim of community benefits agreements without significant investment, input, and consent from the communities who will host this infrastructure.
It is imperative that organizers for the hub consider the input of host communities, which are primary Environmental Justice communities and frontline communities who are already significant burdened by pollution and negative air quality. We call upon OCED and hub organizers to honor the community’s right to exercise free, prior and informed consent as well as their right to refuse, by providing transparent and robust information.
In an effort to increase transparency and get these questions answered, please see the concerns that NJEJA has raised to the MACH Community Engagement team regarding the logistical development of this process.
Press Release: EJ Community Members Say: EPA Rules Must Incorporate Cumulative Impacts Analysis and Discontinue Reliance on CCS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 26, 2024
Press Contacts
NJ Environmental Justice Alliance: Melissa Miles | melissa@njeja.org
Center for the Urban Environment of the Watson Institute for Urban Policy & Research: Dr. Nicky Sheats, Esq. | nsheats@kean.edu
Tishman Environment and Design Center: Dr. Ana Isabel Baptista | baptista@newschool.edu
Ironbound Community Corp.: Maria Lopez-Nunez | mlopeznunez@ironboundcc.org
EJ Community Members Say:
EPA Rules Must Incorporate Cumulative Impacts Analysis and Discontinue Reliance on CCS
Washington D.C. – On April 25, the EPA announced a suite of four standards on toxic air pollution, water pollution, land contamination, and GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions from fossil fuel burning power plants. Key among these is the final rule for existing coal-fired and new natural gas-fired power plants.
We recognize the important steps the EPA has taken in removing hydrogen co-firing from consideration as a BSER (Best System of Emissions Reduction) and understand the importance in a delayed ruling on reducing GHG emissions from existing natural gas plants in order to consider the best approach and to address environmental justice concerns.
In order to best address the risks of climate change and local air pollution as well as protect frontline Environmental Justice communities, the EPA should incorporate a cumulative impacts and MER (mandatory emissions reduction) approach.
We would also call upon the EPA to continue to strengthen its rules and ensure that future rules do not include hydrogen co-firing or CCS/CCUS as a BSER. We urge the EPA to discontinue its reliance on and promotion of CCS as a technological solution to climate change mitigation. CCS is an unproven and high-risk approach to reducing GHG emissions, and fails to address co-pollutant emissions from power plants in a meaningful and holistic way.
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“The EPA Power Plant Rule update resulted from decades of organizing and advocacy and years of partnerships between the EPA and Environmental Justice communities. The EPA is modeling some of the best practices around the engagement of impacted communities, and these updated rules are a win for us all. At the same time, we acknowledge the parts of the rules flagged by communities as non-starters, namely the use of carbon capture, utilization and storage in EJ communities. The implicit inclusion of this dangerous technology was a loss for us all. However, we maintain hope that the next update will incorporate cumulative impacts and a mandatory emissions reduction approach to regulating existing power plants.”
Melissa Miles,
Executive Director, New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance
“I congratulate EPA on the decision to remove hydrogen co-firing from the power plant rule. However, cumulative impacts and mandatory emissions reductions policies should be incorporated into the rule to protect environmental justice communities in general, and especially as a safeguard for the potential harms of carbon capture technology, which unfortunately remains in the rule. These protective policies should also be incorporated into the existing gas plants portion of the rule.”
Dr. Nicky Sheats, Esq.,
Director, Center for the Urban Environment, John S. Watson Institute for Urban Policy and Research at Kean University
President of the Board and member of the New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance
“We want to urge the USEPA to prioritize the health and well-being of environmental justice communities in the implementation of these rules. We look forward to seeing mandatory emissions reductions and approaches to reducing cumulative impacts embedded in the regulations now being developed for existing natural gas plants.”
Dr. Ana Isabel Baptista,
Co-Director Tishman Environment & Design Center
NJEJA Board Member
“EPA has to show progress on cumulative impacts and mandatory emissions reductions if we are to believe that this administration is not just all talk regarding the welfare of the most vulnerable communities. These concepts must be embedded into existing and future regulation to safeguard our communities from bad local actors.”
Maria Lopez-Nunez,
Deputy Director, Organizing and Advocacy Ironbound Community Corporation
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.
The Center for the Urban Environment (CUE) strives to protect communities Of Color and low-income communities from disproportionately high amounts of pollution by addressing environmental justice (EJ) issues on the local, state and national levels.
The Tishman Environment and Design Center at The New School is a collaborative community of practice that leverages research, policy, and design in accordance with the Jemez Principles for Democratic Organizing. Our Center brings together research and action to tackle the root causes of climate and environmental injustice and commit to changing higher education practices within and beyond The New School.
The Ironbound Community Cooperation upholds and builds upon the principles of “Justice and Equality for All.” We strive to practice and build equity, work towards a Just Transition, and organize community on the basis of the Jemez Principles. We envision a safe, healthy, just, and nurturing Ironbound; a welcoming and fully inclusive community that supports equal and accessible opportunity and the quest for a better life. For us, revitalization means uplifting both people and place. Therefore, we aim to lead the transformation of Ironbound into a neighborhood where anyone might choose to live and current residents can remain in their homes and their community without fear of being displaced.
HYBRID: Community Listening Session on Waste Issues (Camden, NJ)
We are excited to invite you to a Community Listening Session on Waste Issues in Camden! The purpose of these sessions is to listen to what Environmental Justice community members have to say about waste-related injustices and issues they are experiencing in their communities.
Continue readingPress Release: Protect EJ Communities While Mitigating Climate Change
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 15, 2024
Press Contacts
NJ Environmental Justice Alliance: Brooke Helmick | brooke@njeja.org
Center for the Urban Environment: Nicky Sheats, PhD, Esq. | nsheats@kean.edu
Ironbound Community Corp.: Maria Lopez-Nunez | mlopeznunez@ironboundcc.org
Environmental Justice Communities Say:
Protect EJ Communities While Mitigating Climate Change
Trenton – On March 14, the Senate Energy and Environment Committee both strengthened and voted in favor (3-2) of a Clean Energy Standard (S237/A1480). The EJ community has been actively involved in calling for a nation-leading definition of clean energy and climate change mitigation policy that reduces locally harmful GHG co-pollutants in overburdened Environmental Justice communities, and does not allow for potential loopholes or false solutions.
We celebrate the passage of this strong definition, and the fact that this bill makes New Jersey a leader in ensuring states prioritize the procurement of clean energy. However, we also recognize that this bill has a long way to go before it can be enacted into law. This moment cannot be the end of the conversation, and we will continue to call for new language and provisions that actively protect EJ communities while creating new jobs and a cleaner environment.
We call upon legislators to continue fine-tuning this bill by ensuring that the legislation:
- Reduces toxic air pollution in EJ communities by removing “net emissions” calculations;
- Creates a strong standard for “de minimis” levels of pollution that are as close to zero as possible; and
- Prevents polluting facilities such as incinerators from receiving ratepayer subsidies when they violate air permits.
“This moment represents a turning point for the state and the country. Including co-pollutants in the definition makes New Jersey a leader in protecting frontline communities. There is more work to be done to make sure that the bill is as protective of EJ communities as possible, but we take this moment to celebrate and honor the many advocates who have worked tirelessly to protect public health, call for climate change mitigation, and ensure that EJ communities are not left behind in the energy transition.”
Melissa Miles
Executive Director
New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance
“It’s so refreshing to see a holistic and necessary approach to defining clean energy. If we do not include co-pollutants, we stand to repeat the mistakes of the past where we sacrifice local communities for the so-called “greater good.” Today is an important step in leading the country towards a future that deals with both public health and climate change.”
Maria Lopez-Nuñez
Deputy Director, Organizing and Advocacy
Ironbound Community Corportation
“Incorporating GHG co-pollutant reductions into a clean energy standard is the type of action the environmental justice community has been strongly recommending for many years. It will help protect communities near energy infrastructure from locally harmful co-pollutant emissions while at the same time fighting climate change.”
Nicky Sheats, Ph.D., Esq.
Director, Center for the Urban Environment
John S. Watson Institute for Urban Policy and Research at Kean University
Member of the 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.
ICC upholds and builds upon the principles of “Justice and Equality for All.” We strive to practice and build equity, work towards a Just Transition, and organize community on the basis of the Jemez Principles. We envision a safe, healthy, just, and nurturing Ironbound; a welcoming and fully inclusive community that supports equal and accessible opportunity and the quest for a better life. For us, revitalization means uplifting both people and place. Therefore, we aim to lead the transformation of Ironbound into a neighborhood where anyone might choose to live and current residents can remain in their homes and their community without fear of being displaced.
Funding Our Futures
There is an unprecedented amount of environmental justice funding allocated for organizations and the window to access these dollars is closing. Recognizing the urgency of the moment, we are excited to partner with the NJ Department of Environmental Protection to host Funding Our Futures: Navigating State and Federal Grants.
UPDATE: Due to weather concerns, we’ve decided to shift #FundingOurFutures seminar to a virtual webinar.
Join us via Zoom!
Comments to the Dept. of Treasury on Credits for Hydrogen Production
To date, climate change mitigation policy has typically been carbon-centric and focused solely on reducing carbon emissions. We urge the 45(v) tax credit proposed rule to move away from carbon centrism by addressing EJ issues that include limiting the emissions of GHG co-pollutants in general as much as possible.
A carbon centric approach and focus on solely using the lifecycle GHG emissions rate of hydrogen production as the metric to determine whether the hydrogen produced is “clean”, is a significant EJ concern. This approach ignores the emissions of GHG co-pollutants along the life cycle of not just hydrogen production but storage, delivery and end uses (such as the burning of hydrogen-blended natural gas at power plants3). Additionally, when a life cycle GHG emissions rate is the sole metric to determine whether the hydrogen produced is clean, a myriad of environmental and health impacts along the hydrogen production chain remain insufficiently addressed.
NJEJA Celebrates Success of Inaugural Offshore Wind Training Program
On December 21, 2023, the New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance (NJEJA) marked a significant milestone with the conclusion of its first-ever Offshore Wind Training Program. The program culminated in a heartwarming graduation ceremony held at The Salvation Army, bringing together participants, their families, and distinguished guests to celebrate the accomplishments of the 24 graduates.
The comprehensive training initiative aimed to equip participants with essential skills and knowledge related to offshore wind energy, a cleaner alternative to traditional fossil fuel sources. Throughout the program, participants underwent 150 hours of foundational Offshore Wind Training, hands-on construction training, and received crucial job placement support. Additionally, they obtained Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) certification, further enhancing their employability in the growing clean energy sector. One unique aspect of the program was the recognition of participants’ commitment, as each graduate received a stipend for their dedication to the training. This not only acknowledged their hard work but also provided tangible support as they transitioned into new career opportunities. In a symbolic gesture, graduates were presented with toolboxes, representing the tools they had acquired during the program and their readiness to contribute to the growing field of offshore wind energy.
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NJEJA collaborated with several co-sponsors to make the Offshore Wind Training Program a reality. Soulful Synergy, Newark Workforce Development Board, and the City of Newark Office of Sustainability played pivotal roles in ensuring the success of the initiative.
The ceremony featured other speakers such as Favio Germán of Attentive Energy, a representative from an offshore wind company, South Ward Councilman Patrick Council, and Catresa McGhee, Deputy Director of the Workforce Development Board.
Melissa Miles, the Executive Director of NJEJA, emphasized the significance of transitioning from polluting fossil fuel energy, especially in communities burdened by the presence of harmful fossil fuel plants. She highlighted the program’s role not only in shifting to a cleaner energy system but also in rectifying historical injustices faced by communities like Newark.
Victor Gavilanes, a proud graduate of the Offshore Wind Training Program, expressed gratitude and advocated for the continuation of such training opportunities in the city. “We need good opportunities to get those good paying jobs so that we can get out of our situations and do better,” Gavilanes stated, underlining the importance of creating avenues for quality employment in disadvantaged communities.
One of the most touching moments came from Murphy Kelly, a program participant, who shared a personal journey of finding purpose and passion through the Offshore Wind Training Program. “Before this program, I was a bit lost, somewhat broken after experiencing the loss of both my parents. I lost a passion for life. By a chance of serendipity, I stumbled upon this program and it reignited my passion for life, learning, and education,” Kelly expressed, reflecting the transformative power of education and opportunity.
The NJEJA’s Offshore Wind Training Program stands as a beacon of hope, demonstrating how education, clean energy jobs, and community collaboration can create positive change. As the graduates embark on new career paths, they carry with them the knowledge and skills to contribute to a greener and more equitable future for New Jersey and beyond.
NJEJA’s Offshore Wind Training Program is a transformative initiative designed to empower individuals from overburdened communities with the essential skills and knowledge needed for a career in the growing field of offshore wind energy. Prospective participants are encouraged to stay informed about upcoming cohorts by signing up for NJEJA’s mailing list.