I'm continuing to use our "Green NJ Update" format to supplement the other articles I'm posting to the site. Please also remember to see the extensive CALENDAR on this site.

ACTION ALERT. Highlands / PSE&G Public Meetings. About 60 people showed up for a PSE&G meeting at the Holiday Inn Express in Newton to explain its case to build power lines through the Highlands. The next session will be held December 17.

ACTION ALERT.
Preservation. The Gloucester County freeholders tonight plan to tout a $38m proposal to preserve nearly 1,900 acres of farmland and other open space. Courier Post Online. (hat top Shore11). Meeting in Woodbury, NJ. From the article: "Public comment will be taken at tonight's freeholder meeting and once more before the vote, which will likely occur at another meeting in two weeks, Freeholder Robert M. Damminger said. Under the ordinance, the county would acquire 22 farms and seven open space parcels next year across 12 municipalities, including Washington Township, Deptford, West Deptford and Harrison."People desperately want this," Damminger said. "They like to keep the rural aspect of the county and have access to locally grown fruit and produce. People don't want monster housing and developments that strain municipal services."

Opposing Lisa Jackson. On Monday the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility - NJ issued a statement saying, "Why Lisa Jackson (former NJ DEP head) should not run the [U.S.] EPA -- Disastrous record in NJ bodes ill for reforming EPA."

Energy Efficiency. Opportunities for more companies. NJ Board of Public Utilities gave an $88,000 incentive check to Glatt Air Techniques of Ramsey in recognition of its Energy Savings leadership. NJBPU wants more companies to take advantage of its "NJ SmartStart Buildings Program" to "to meet Gov. Corzine's goal of reducing our overall energy consumption 20% by 2020.

Sustainable Business Incubators. Yesterday the NJ Commission on Science & Technology announced a $25,000 award to FDU's Sustainable Business Incubator and a $40,000 award to the NJ Meadowlands Business Accelerator.

Court Affirms Highlands Act. Yesterday the Appellate Division affirmed the constitutionality of the Highlands Act, against a challenge by a developer who owns undeveloped land in the Highlands. See also article in NJ Law Journal (subscription required).


Press Articles

• Energy Audits. State Board of Public Utilities audit program may help towns save on energy. Press of Atlantic City. (hat tip Shore11)
  
• Energy Audits. Meeting set for Dec. 16 in Somerville to discuss Somerset County-funded energy audits. My Central Jersey. "The county plans to select applications submitted by towns and school districts and assign one of multiple prescreened firms to perform the audit, which will identify energy improvements, their cost and the payback in savings."
• Raw sewage flooded homes in the Lakeview section of Clifton. The Record
• EPA to seek study of Berry's creek, a contaminant-laced tributary of the Hackensack River. The Record.
• New Environmental Group. SEE Lambertville plans to hold regular meetings in '09 and look into creating a community garden and other projects. The Beacon.
• Farm Preservation. The Register-News picked up the story about the Burlington County Agriculture Development Board recent call for the preservation of 200 more farms over the next 10 years.
  

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