Assembly Republican Policy Committee to Undertake New Jersey Environmental Issues as First Topics for Review

Assembly Republican Policy Committee Chairman Jon Bramnick announced today the committee will undertake its first study area - the New Jersey Environment and Energy.

Bramnick, who appointed Assemblywoman Denise Coyle to lead the group on this topic, said committee members will work with the Legislature, the public and private industry to develop clear, cohesive policy for the State in this very important area.

Coyle, R-Somerset and Morris, led committee members in a discussion of the group’s proposed areas of review during a press conference held this morning at the Statehouse.“We believe there is a strong link between the environment and the economy,” stated Coyle. “Since our role as a committee is to find innovative ways to help our residents and since we are all currently being negatively affected by high energy costs, we deemed it prudent to make environmental and energy issues a priority. We believe the topics we will examine will help a broad spectrum of residents and, over the short- and long-term, will result in savings for families, businesses and the State itself.”

Noting that “this state needs a clear, bold vision, ”Assembly Republican Whip and committee Chair Jon Bramnick, R- Union, Morris, Somerset and Essex, said the group will spend the next few months “developing a common sense plan that is cohesive and consistent. We owe it to the residents of New Jersey to find ways to save them money and to give them a cleaner, more environmentally sound New Jersey.”

Using her home county as an example, Coyle noted that Somerset has been a leader in implementing innovative plans for smart growth and green building, citing various programs the county has created including brownfields redevelopment programs, Intermunicipal Planning Agreements in which towns pledge to work together to manage the impact of growth that affects more than one township, and the “High Performance Public Buildings Program,” the first of its kind in the state, that provides clear direction for the development of buildings that have minimal impact on the environment.

The freshman legislator will also examine the state’s tax structure, incentives and what other states and countries are doing as it pertains to environmental and energy issues.

Other committee members offered insights on the following “green” topics that will be explored:

• Assemblywoman Charlotte Vandervalk, R-Bergen - Energy Efficiency, including Energy Audits and Advance Metering and Smart Grid.
• Assemblywoman Dawn Marie Addiego, R-Burlington - Energy Star Program, the federal appliance Energy Guide; the benefits of Weatherization, and usage of CFLights.
• Assemblyman David Rible, R-Monmouth - Alternative Fuels for Cars, including the use and benefits of Mass Transportation to reduce traffic congestion, and making the State a leader in fuel economy as it relates to the State Fleet of vehicles.
• Assemblyman Scott Rumana, R-Passaic, Bergen and Essex - Streamlining the Regulatory Process at the local and state government levels and within the Board of Public Utilities (BPU).

Coyle added that alternative energy sources, such as wind, solar, and co-generation, are another important part of the environmental-energy equation that has a real chance at success.

“ ‘Green living’ is an industry growing at a rapid pace, with billions spent every year on ways to be more efficient in terms of both energy and economics,” explained Coyle. “This will lead to the creation of tens of thousands of jobs nationwide, boosting the economy while providing an important service.”

The Assembly Republican Policy Committee was established to advocate for the Republican “Common Sense Plan for an Affordable New Jersey” and to study other critical public policy issues facing the state, including affordable housing, health care, government performance audits, drug abuse prevention and economic growth.

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