Pursuant to the Global Warming Response Act (GWRA), the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is required to assess the state’s progress in meeting the Act’s carbon reduction goal of reducing total carbon emissions by 80% by 2050. New Jersey has already met the interim goal of a 20% reduction by 2020.
On Thursday, NJDEP issued the 80/50 report and NJBIA participated in a conference call where the details of the report were discussed.
Ray Cantor – VP, Government Affairs
The report assesses New Jersey’s progress in meeting the GWRA goal of reducing emissions of climate pollutants by 80% below 2006 levels by 2050, and makes a suite of recommendations for legislative, regulatory and policy initiatives to effect an economy-wide transformation that steadily reduces the emissions over the next 30 years.
The report individually assesses seven emissions “sectors,” presents emissions reductions pathways for each, and issues a call-to-action for policymakers, businesses, and the public.
While not directly connected, the GWRA report follows the recommendations of New Jersey’s Energy Master Plan that was adopted in January of this year. In response to questions from NJBIA, the NJDEP admitted that the report does not address cost or reliability impacts but that those issues will need to be addressed as implementing laws and regulations are considered.
NJBIA continues to be critical of the EMP because of its failure to consider costs and reliability and for its unrealistic assumptions of our energy future.
