Solar. Big project in the works, writes Jeremy Rosen for the Courier Post Online. "Mantua, NJ resident David Sharrow, partly fueled by concerns for the future of his eight children in a degenerating environment, has reached a $14 million agreement with a solar energy development company. He plans to transpose his 10-acre Williamstown lot into potentially the biggest solar farm in New Jersey.... The nearly 9,000-panel solar farm would annually produce two megawatts of power our enough energy to supply 1,000 families, and also reduce yearly carbon dioxide emissions by more than 3,000 tons, according to developer SolarWorks NJ. Next step is for SolarWorks NJ to get financing, and "several investors are interested."
NJ's Environmental Challenges. "N.J. environment's defenders uneasy," writes Asbury Park Press environmental writer Todd Bates. The article provides an overview of the additional challenges the state faces in '09. It quotes representatives of the American Littoral Society, Clean Ocean Action, the NJ Environmental Federation, and the DEP's Mauriello.
Global Warming / NJ. NJ State Senator Andrew Ciesla (10th District) wrote on Dec. 23 for the Senate Republicans' website: "Corzine Global Warming Plan Adds to COAH Confusion." The letter's main argument is: "Gov. Corzine must abolish the Dec. 31st COAH deadline [for towns to submit affordable housing plans] and reconcile the fundamental conflicts that exist between the Highlands Act, COAH and his global warming initiative [see the Dec. 15 Draft Global Warming Response Act Recommendation Report] before issuing any more mandates to municipalities. Let me make this clear, our state's affordable housing policy is wrong and needs to be scrapped."
Transportation. "County boards eye federal aid for roads, rails," writes Bob Jordan for the Asbury Park Press. Monmouth County is canceling planned budget cuts that wold have cut its federal transportation lobbyists, and Ocean County is stepping up efforts to obtain funds (though it doesn't employ federal lobbyists). "Officials in both counties say they hope to see plans move forward for a proposed Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex rail line ... 'The rail line would help not only here, but also throughout the state of NJ, by getting cards off the road,'" said Ocean County Freeholder Joseph Vicari, according to the article. (hat tip PolitickerNJ)
- Comment: But funding for road projects could significantly outweigh stimulus to public transportation projects. NJ's backlog of road projects seems much larger than its backlog of public transportation projects, according to my reading of an article in today's Record.
Maplewood Joins Green Drinks. Maplewood Mayor Fred Profeta and the Maplewood Green Team have joined Green Drinks, the international effort by towns to bring awareness to environmental issues. Maplewood's inaugural Green Drinks will take place Jan 8, 7pm at Cent'Anni, 5 Highland Place, Maplewood. (hat tip reader Jason).
- Comment: Only three other NJ Green Drinks participants are listed on the Green Drinks website: Summit, Bernards and North Jersey. One of them, North Jersey Green Drinks, is hosting drinks TOMORROW NIGHT at Egan & Sons, 118 Walnut St., Montclair.
Clearwater. Monmouth Country Friends of Clearwater wrote on December 25 that it has formally changed its name to "Clearwater of New Jersey" (CoNJ) to "better reflect our outreach domain and membership demographics." The website also updates readers on CoNJ's letter to Gov. Corzine opposing LNG terminals, and on a December meeting called "Sea Level Rise Workshop: How Prepare Are You for Rising Waters?"
Pinelands. Feature article in Asbury Park Press about how mapping technologies are helping the Pinelands undergo its largest re-mapping since 1980. (hat tip Wild New Jersey)
Meadowlands Scientist. NY1's "New Jersey Person of the Week" is a scientist who monitors the Meadowlands. (hat tip Wild New Jersey)
Parks. Rumson gets $250,000 from Monmouth County to help purchase land in a park expansion.
Preservation. The Cap May National Wildlife Refuge has added 371 acres, reports the Press of Atlantic City.
NJ Green Winter Newsletters - Update. I plan to post brief updates on each newsletter coming from the 200-or-so NJ green organizations that I try to track. If I've missed your Dec./Jan./Winter newsletter, please let me know. And don't hesitate to "sign me up!" My high-volume email inbox is: josephbasralian at yahoo dot com.
- Conservation Resources. Winter newsletter highlights the seven new NJ conservation projects that it is backing. And with the more difficult funding environment in '09, C.R. promises "a new, more efficient way to bring much-needed capital to conservation projects in early '09."
- Clean Ocean Action. January newsletter highlights COA's tactics in opposing LNG facilities and offshore drilllling, as well as its hopes for wind and wave power, and the progress of Student Ocean Advocates.
- The Urban Coast Institute of Monmouth University. December newsletter includes a call for regional action to restore coastal lakes, the UCI's new boat for waterway survey work, and other items.
A couple of items from before the holidays that I'm just picking up now:
Preservation. NJ's Ag Secretary and Smart Growth Director praised Woolwich Township's TDR (transfer of development rights) program that will result in the permanent preservation of up to 4,100 acres of farmland and enable it to manage some of the highest development pressure in the state.
Food Waste Recycling. "The Solid Waste Renewal Group (SWRRG) at Rutgers NJ Agricultural Experiment Station has just finished its first year of county-based food waste recycling forums, and participants who signed up for food waste recycling are finding some additional benefits..."
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