Environmental Protection
The League of Women Voters of New Jersey has a statewide Natural Resources Committee working to understand and influence environmental policy in the state. Members interested in joining this committee can contact the state office at kmbutch@lwvnj.org.
Upcoming Event: The League of Women Voters of New Jersey Natural Resources Committee will meet Saturday, March 3, 10 am, Metuchen Public Library, 480 Middlesex Ave, Metuchen, NJ 08840. Members and the public who are interested in getting involved with the committee are encouraged to attend.
Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
The League of Women Voters of New Jersey supports NJ's participation the Regional Greenhouse Gas Iniative.
LWVNJ Testimony in Support of A1998 - Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee
LWVNJ Remarks at Westfield Rally in Support of RGGI
"Residents, experts say bring back RGGI" - Westfield Patch
"Westfield rally held in support of RGGI" - Independent Press
Hydraulic Fracturing
Hydraulic Fracturing - LWVNJ Report
Letter to the League of Women Voters of the United States asking to proritize the "FRAC ACT"
Letter to Governor Christie on hydrofracking
Letter to the Delaware River Basin Commission Expressing Concerns Regarding Hydraulic Fracturing
Energy Master Plan
The League of Women Voters of New Jersey has testified and commented on New Jersey's proposed Energy Master Plan.
- 2011 Energy Master Plan Hearing Testimony - July 26, 2011
- "On energy plan, cost considered before safety, says League of Women Voters"
Clean Air Promise Campaign
The League of Women Voters is asking members of Congress, respected community leaders and citizens around the country to promise to protect the health of children and families from air pollution. This is a social commitment that we make to each other and which we depend on our elected officials in Congress to carry out and safeguard. For too long, the debate has focused on "overregulation" and featured false assertions that environmental protections hurt our economy. Clean air saves lives, and we need to ensure clean air for our children and families in the future.
Some public officials are trying to undermine the Clean Air Act and to strip the EPA of its ability to limit air pollution and emission of toxics like mercury, arsenic and other dangerous substances which threaten public health. For decades, the League of Women Voters has put the health of families ahead of other concerns. The League was one of the first environmental organizations to speak out for the Clean Air Act and the Environmental Protection Agency.
The League is bringing the Clean Air Promise to voters around the country in order to inform and engage Americans on the issue of clean air and to demonstrate what is at stake.
Please visit www.peoplenotpolluters.org today and make the promise!
Environmental Alphabet Soup
A Series of Reports Prepared by LWVNJ Natural Resources Committee
An environmental alphabet soup with three major ingredients is simmering on New Jersey's menu of future options, and all three components carry the potential for disastrous effects on the environment.
The Big Three are:
- Fracking (or hydraulic fracturing), a technique for extracting gas from the earth by injecting a mixture of water and chemicals.
- LNG (liquefied natural gas), which would be brought to our shores and distributed throughout the region by underground pipelines.
- PurGen One, a proposed electricity generating facility and manufacturing plant which would run on gasified coal, with the resulting carbon dioxide being piped out to the ocean and buried under the seabed.
The Natural Resources Committee, which has been following developments on all three, is preparing reports aimed at informing League members. The reports will be appear below as they become available.
PurGen: A Coal Plant in Linden
Liquefied Natural Gas
Additional Environmental Information
The Heat is On: Climate Change and Emerging Policies (LWVUS)
LWVUS Natural Resources Information
Other Natural Resources Positions
The League of Women Voters of New Jersey has positions concerning planning for growth: land use decision making, water resources, and transportation corridors, as well as positions concerning radioactive waste and solid waste management. Details can be found in the League of Women Voters of New Jersey's Study & Action.