In addition to my discussion of NJ's Global Warming Response Act Recommendation Report and Pollution information in blog posts yesterday, as well as an ACTION ALERT today, here are numerous other developments:

Legislative

Legislation Introduced yesterday (among the environment-related legislation):

• S2451. Provides exemption from tax on sales of certain energy saving products and services purchased from businesses located in an urban enterprise zone. (Bob Smith / Ray Lesniak) Identical Bill Number: A3619.
• A3541. Extends deadline for municipal certified recycling coordinator requirements. Recycling coordinator, muncipalities. (Michael Doherty, John McKeon)
• S2449. Appropriates $600,000 from "Clean Waters Bond Act of 1976" for Lake Hopatcong Commission, to meet its operating expenses. (Anthony Bucco).

Legislature / Energy Efficiency. Next Stop, Governor's Desk. S1537 cleared the State Senate yesterday 37-0, and an identical bill A1185 passed the Assembly yesterday 76-1. The bill -- which heads to Gov. Corzine to be signed into law -- it makes it easier for public entities to invest in future energy cost savings. According to a press release published by Senate Environment Committee Chairman Bob Smith (hat tip Capitol Quickies), "Under the bill, a public entity would be able to contract wtih an energy services company through a lease-purchase agreement, which would have a duration of not more than 15 years, or 20 years in some cases. The bill wold permit public entities to finance the cost of improvements" rather than have to cover the cost in year 1, for instance.

• The only "No" vote came from Assemblyman John E. Rooney (R-39, Emerson), the longest-serving member of the Assembly. We phoned his office at 201 967 8910 this morning to ask why he voted No, but the machine answering system was not functioning properly.
  

Legislation / Dismal Swamp. A3072 cleared the Assembly 75-5-1 to authorize the establishment of a Dismal Swamp Preservation Commission. Bill heads next to Senate floor. (hat tip Capitol Quickies)

Legislature / Global Warming. SR34 yesterday asked the U.S. EPA to provide funding to NJ to measure the impact of climate change in NJ. (hat tip Capitol Quickies)

Judicial

Important Court Ruling. Owners of property may become more responsible for cleanup costs. Yesterday the NJ Court of Appeals (read the full opinion here) reversed a trial court's decision and said that Renaper Realty will have to disgorge its revenue from selling land to the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, which took control of the small parcel, which it needed to build a rail link. Renaper Realty's land was polluted, and the NJSEA has paid $2.14m to clean-up the property. NJSEA was able to claw-back the $18,700 it paid for the property, and Renepar Realty will share some of the cleanup costs. (hat tip Star-Ledger article by Maura McDermott)

Court Ruling - Stormwater. The Appellate Court has published its ruling against an attempt by Save Hamilton Open Space to assure cleaner development of a parcel. Save Hamilton Open Space claimed that the development did not satisfy the conditions of the DEP's Phase II stormwater regulations. The Court's ruling affirms the ease with which municipalities, rather then the DEP, can rule that some stormwater runoff rules are met by developers.

Pollution. N.J. sues Port Authority for clean-up costs of Rahway riverfront, writes Judy Peet for The Star-Ledger. (hat tip Shore11)

NJ Green Non-Profit

"Take Back The Fifth" introduces a PAC. "Take Back the Fifth," the organization and blog dedicated to ousting ultra-conservative (and vehemently anti-environment) Rep. Scott Garrett from his 5th District seat in the Nov '10 elections, announced that George Hertzberg has launched the "Take the Fifth" Political Action Committee. This gives "Take Back The Fifth" the framework to make a bigger financial impact on the 2010 race. Garrett's record on the environment is abysmal, and he has staunchly defended every unusual privilege of fossil-fuel producers. The League of Conservation Voters gives him a NJ-low (by far) 10% rating, and I've blogged before on the topic: "Killer Coal and NJ Rep. Scott Garrett."

American Littoral Society / Groundwater. Matt Blake of the American Littoral Society was quoted at length in a Press of Atlantic City article by Edward van Embden on the importance of preserving clean groundwater, and the risks to Cumberland County drinking water in particular. (hat tip Shore11)

Edison Wetlands Association / Anti-Pollution Rally. Truly horrifying pollution, and nothing being done about it. See my full blog post here.

Religion / Environment. Synagogues preach the value of going green. Harvey Lipman for The Record.

Business

Natural Gas Vehicles. Trenton waste hauler Central Jersey Waste & Recycling to run fleet of 20 trucks on natural gas provided by Energy Fuels Corp. BusinessWire. (hat tip EnviroPolitics)

Energy Efficiency. Energy Options, Inc. of Edison, NJ has introduced a software product that saves clients 20-35% on the energy used to power data centers, it says. Top clients include Goldman Sachs. NJBiz. (hat top EnviroPolitics)

The NJ Meadowlands Business Accelerator received its first State grant -- $40,000 -- to help pay for its programs that accelerate the growth of NJ sustainable businesses.

Also Of Interest

NJ Beach Erosion. N.J.'s $800m shoreline. "Without those funds [$800m for beach replenishment], coastal engineers say, many of the 127 miles of beaches would shrink....The most dramatic beach recession occurred in North Wildwood, Cape May County, where the 15th Avenue beach area retreated 1,054 feet in 20 years." Karen Sudol for The Record.

Preservation. "Sussex Airport will remain: Township, not developers, could purchase land." NJ Herald. (hat tip Green Jersey)

Preservation. The NJ Law Journal (subscription required) published an extended explanation of how the NJ Supreme Court recently affirmed the Highland Act, making it harder to get development waivers.

Assemblyman Michael Doherty (Warren/Hunterdown) has organized a forum for tonight in Washington Township. to discuss wood-fired boilers. DEP representatives will attend, says the article.

Highlands / Increased Urgency. ANJEC -- the Association of NJ Environmental Commissions -- elevated its call to members, saying "COAH (Council on Affordable Housing) and Highlands Conformance: Time Running out for Extensions: Municipal Action Deadline December 31, 2008." This is a reminder to municipalities that want extensions on the deadline for creating a plan to provide for affordable housing, which many feel conflicts with their Highlands environment stewardship.

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