Air of Confusion, an editorial in the Ledger yesterday broaching the NJ / Global Warming topic, is mostly helpful. It points out something I keep hearing from NJ environmental experts: the state is pretty good at drawing up progressive green guidelines for the global warming era, but bad at turning them into reality. For instance, the article points out that the NJ Dept of Purchasing is accepting bids next week to buy a fleet of low-efficiency SUVs, whereas the state has supposedly adopted the goal of averaging 40.5 mpg by 2016.

• Comment: That's one reason why we'll need a stronger Global Warming Awareness Act Recommendation Report to come out of the January public review period, and why the report should create a strong "Implementation Team."
• Comment #2: The Ledger article falls flat in the end. Only "the condition of the North Pole" and some polar bears will suffer if we don't address global warming. What about hundreds -- thousands -- of square miles of NJ's coastal and low-lying towns, businesses, trade ports and industrial areas -- not to mention entire ecosystems?

Wind Power. Ben Leach of the Press of Atlantic City reports that a Seattle-based company, Grays Harbor Ocean Energy Co., is entering the fray to offer building a wind farm almost three-times the size of existing proposals -- 1000 megawatts, or enough to power about 300,000 homes in NJ. (hat tip Shore11)

• Comment: Note the company's dual wind/wave technology, and its explanation of why NJ may be so well-suited to producing wind power from floating platforms that can harness wave energy too. But we'll need to move much quicker on renewable energy, and wind power is only a small piece of the urgent process to reduce emissions.

Electronics Recycling. Glassboro has launched a successful electronics waste recycling program, writes the Courier Post. The town has collected almost three tons of electronic waste in its first month. It's working with Thanks For Being Green LLC, of Audubon, NJ. Cherry Hill and Monroe are also working with the company, and the article implies that things are going well. (hat tip Blue Jersey)

• Comment: Engaging with Thanks For Being Green and launching electronic waste recycling is one of many ways that NJ recycling advocates can try to counter the economic pressure against recycling.

Utilities. The Record highlights, "stiff opposition from a coalition of consumer, business and environmental groups" to NJ Senate legislation that would enhance the economics for the state's utility companies.


Environment / Agriculture. An article in the NJ Herald profiling the outgoing NJ Agriculture Secretary Kuperas highlights some of the ag-related environmental challenges the state faces.


Princeton Environmental Film Festival. Enthusiasm is undoubtedly building for the ten-day event of films, talks and workshops, and blogs such as EnviroPolitics Blog and Green Jersey are previewing the event, not to mention area newspapers.

This blog's extensive "NJ Green Calendar" highlights many additional events in the first few days of January (and beyond):

1. 6th Annual Sons of Ireland Polar Bear Plunge to benefit Clean Ocean Action and others. Convention Center, Asbury Park, NJ, 10am-12pm check-in, 1pm plunge. Sons of Ireland

2-11. Princeton Environmental Film Festival.

3. The NJN documentary Green Builders will be screened as part of the third annual Princeton Environmental Film Festival, reports the Rutgers Center for Green Building.

4. Monmouth County Friends of Clearwater. Monthly membership meeting. Eatontown.

5. Deadline to submit for prequalification for new contracts for Green Acres Survey Services.

5. Pinelands Commission meeting - policy and implementation. New Lisbon.

6. Stakeholder Meeting #1 of 6 for the Draft NJ Global Warming Response Act Recommendation Report. Subject: Green Buildings. Trenton.

6. Full report on results of 12/17/08 RGGI auction will be published.

More: link to NJ Green Calendar.

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