Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer, Given the lack of interest in environmental issues shown by President Donald Trump, it’s going to be crucial to have a friend in the New Jersey governor’s seat next year., That was the message delivered to about a dozen attendees at the United State of Women’s program on environmental issues, featuring state Assemblywoman Elizabeth Muoio (D-15th Legislative District) and Alison Mitchell of the New Jersey Conservation Foundation., Both women said they were concerned about the impact of President Trump’s proposed 30-percent cut in funding to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s budget, and the potential fallout down the line in New Jersey., The proposed state budget assumes that New Jersey will receive $14 billion in federal aid, including money for the environment, but President Trump has already said there will be cuts in funding, Muoio said., Mitchell said that any cuts in federal aid to the state government could have an impact on the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. She said she “didn’t think there had ever been a time that appears to be a bigger threat (than now).”, That’s why it is crucial for the next governor to be someone who is sympathetic to the environment, Mitchell and Muoio agreed., “We are going to have to lead the fight on the environment in New Jersey, with President Trump in the White House,” Muoio said. Voters should look at the gubernatorial candidate’s position on the environment, she said., Muoio noted that the number one cause of greenhouse gas emissions, which damages the environment, is vehicle emissions. Funding for mass transportation should not be cut, she said., Muoio reminded the attendees that she came out in opposition to the proposed PennEast natural gas pipeline that cuts through New Jersey., The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which take action on the proposed PennEast pipeline project, has only turned down one application since its creation, she said., FERC uses the rationale, in approving natural gas pipeline projects, that it makes the energy system more reliable, but studies have shown that it is not always the case, Muoio said., FERC is supposed to look at the grid of natural gas pipelines and their cumulative impact, but in reality, the commission looks at each proposal as a stand-alone project, she said., FERC was created to encourage the development of natural gas as a source of fuel because it was believed to be “cleaner” than other sources of energy., But that’s not always true, Muoio said, and that’s why steps should be taken to ensure that FERC is more critical of applications. The regulations may need to be revisited to ensure that FERC is more critical., During the question-and-answer session, one attendee pointed out that California takes steps to address environmental issues, even if it means bucking the federal government. He suggested that states which share similar progressive views should band together and perhaps follow a set of “best practices.”, “I think you will see more of that (banding together) with President Trump. You do need a friend in the New Jersey governor’s seat who will be willing to partner with other states,” Muoio said., Mitchell said that “we feel pretty hopeful that the new governor of New Jersey, regardless of the political party, will be more progressive on the environment. We are looking ahead to better days at the state level, but we are faced with issues at the state level.”
