GOVERNOR CORZINE PLANTS TREES IN NEWARK ON EARTH DAY

NEWARK - Governor Jon S. Corzine today helped students plant trees on the grounds of the Ivy Hill Elementary School in Newark as part of an Earth Day celebration. The school has partnered with the NJ Tree Foundation to restore the tree canopy and enhance the school’s beauty through the Newark Renaissance Trees Program.

“Fighting global warming doesn’t have to be as complicated as international carbon markets and cap and trade programs, it can be as easy as planting a tree,” Corzine said. “Trees keep our communities cooler, reduce energy needs, improve local air quality, and can even help spur economic development by creating a more attractive community for shoppers and businesses.”

The Governor’s Earth Day activities come on heels of his trip to Yale University where he attended the 2008 Conference of Governors on Global warming. The conference was convened to give governors and high level state environmental officials an opportunity to discuss and debate different strategies, methods and partnerships that federal and state governments can employ to combat global warming. Previously, Governor Corzine was one of three United States Governors invited to be part of an international forum in Portugal on developing global carbon markets, considered to be just one economic based solution to help reduce global warming.

After two years in office Governor Corzine and his Administration have taken action on a multitude of environmental issues. A list of highlights is provided below.

Corzine Administration Environmental Accomplishments

• Established New Jersey as a national leader in reducing greenhouse gas emissions through the implementation of Executive Order 54, the Global Warming Response Act and the Global Warming Solutions Fund with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 20% by 2020 followed by a further reduction of 80% by 2050.
  
  
• Continuously challenged the federal government on air pollution including a suit against the EPA for not allowing states to emission standards for passenger cars and light-duty trucks and a suit against the EPA for violating the Clean Air Act and allowing Pennsylvania Power plants to bypass pollution controls and pollute New Jersey’s air. 

• Commenced work on a series of energy related policies including proposed increases to the Clean Energy Program’s budget from 2009-2012, with an increased focus on energy efficiency and a goal to reduce the state’s energy consumption by 20%; transitioning solar energy program to market-based solar renewable energy credit model to encourage greater investment in this technology; and continued work towards the construction of an off-shore wind farm. The RFP process for 350 MW off-shore wind pilot project has closed and the proposals are currently under review.
  
  
• Signed Executive Order 11 creating the position of Director of Energy Savings which is responsible for conducting energy audits at state buildings and facilities, taking steps to maximize New Jersey’s purchasing power by buying energy in bulk, and helping develop a plan for the use of renewable energy and advanced energy sources.
  
  
• Launched the Clean Power Choice Program, providing an opportunity for state residents to elect to use renewable energy through an insert in their utility bill.

• Protected critical drinking water sources by upgrading more than 900 miles of waterways and 1,300 acres of reservoirs to the state's highest designated level of water-quality protection limiting development impact and discharge of pollutants to streams, rivers and lakes.

• Fought off efforts to allow offshore drilling on the eastern seaboard and worked with New Jersey’s Congressional Delegation to successfully beat back legislation that would have allowed exemptions for offshore drilling.
  
  
• Initiated important studies to collect baseline natural resource data in the ocean environment to make scientifically sound decisions regarding potential off-shore wind power locations.
  
  
• Dedicated $9 million as a down payment on the estimated $250 million in deferred capital and maintenance needs in our State parks, forest, wildlife management areas and historic sites.
  
  
• Supported and helped pass a Constitutional Amendment to dedicate Corporation Business Tax Revenues as a stable funding source for the development of land for recreation and conservation purposes.
  
  
• Sued beach clubs to prevent them from restricting access to beaches built though publicly funded shore protection projects.
  
  
• Signed legislation to purchase $80 million of land for conservation and recreation.

• Renamed the New Jersey Environmental Excellence Awards, as the Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards in order to further reflect the state’s commitment to environmental protection.
  
  
• Inspected all child care facilities located within 400 feet of a site of “high environmental concern” and established single point of contact to provide technical assistance to schools regarding proper storage, handling and disposal of chemicals.
  
  
• The Administration has filed approximately 120 lawsuits that could result in hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation from polluters who have harmed New Jersey’s natural resources, including numerous manufacturers and marketers of the gasoline additive MTBE. 

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Photos from Governor Corzine's public events are available in the Governor's Newsroom section on the State of New Jersey web page.