The Senate Environment and Energy Committee voted 3-1 (with one abstention) to approve Senate Resolution 17, introduced by Senator Loretta Weinberg, which “urges the Governor to impose an immediate moratorium on fossil fuel infrastructure projects until the State adopts rules regulating CO2 and other climate pollutants.”

Food & Water Watch New Jersey State Director Matt Smith, who testified at the hearing, released the following statement:

“Governor Murphy has accelerated our state’s timeline for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and launched several high-profile renewable energy projects that will speed the transition to clean power. But these goals can only be meaningful if the state stops approving new dirty energy projects. There are fracked gas pipelines, compressor stations, power plants and export terminals that the Murphy administration must reject if it wants to take a serious approach to climate action and environmental justice. 

“This resolution was championed by Senators Weinberg, Codey and Environment Committee Chairman Smith, whose dedication to climate action made this possible. We now urge the full Senate to join their colleague, as well as a coalition of more than 120 grassroots community groups across the state in calling for a moratorium on all new climate polluting projects. And the Senate’s commitment must be matched by Governor Murphy, who can put New Jersey at the forefront of the fight for climate justice by stopping all new fossil fuel projects.”