Trenton – On Thursday, state legislators, community leaders and concerned state residents rallied at the Capitol in support of the Climate Superfund Act as the Senate Environment Committee heard testimony and voted 3-2 to advance the legislation that will make the largest fossil fuel corporations pay for the damages caused by climate change.

The bill, a top priority for the state’s environmental movement, was introduced by Senators McKeon and Smith, and Assembly Members Allen, Hall and Collazos-Gill. Today’s rally was organized by EmpowerNJ, a statewide coalition fighting fossil fuel projects and promoting an equitable transition to a clean energy economy.

“The cost of climate change is increasingly hitting all of our communities – and taxpayers are being left to foot the bill after devastating storms. These storms are directly linked to climate change fueled by our state’s largest oil and gas polluters – and it’s time they pay their fair share for the increasing damage their products cause,” said Senator John McKeon. “We are not going to see more federal funding in the second Trump presidency to mitigate climate impacts – it’s time for New Jersey to hold our climate polluters accountable.”

“Given Donald Trump’s absurd climate denialism and unabashed defense of air and water polluters, it’s more important than ever that Governor Murphy and State Legislators protect New Jersey taxpayers and the health of our communities by making polluters pay to repair, upgrade and harden our critical infrastructure from climate-driven damage,” said Matt Smith, New Jersey Director of Food & Water Watch. “The Climate Superfund Act is crucial to tackling both the climate and affordability crises in New Jersey. With dedicated funding to protect clean water, prevent flooding and sewer overflows, and harden our energy grid and other critical infrastructure, this bill will help make New Jersey stronger than the climate-fueled storms to come.”

The Climate Superfund Act would hold fossil fuel extractors and refiners that do business in New Jersey – responsible for more than 1 billion tons of greenhouse gas pollution since 1995 – liable for damages for the costs of climate change. It would empower the state treasurer to assess the damages caused by climate change over the past 30 years and charge the Department of Environmental Protection with collecting on those damages. This revenue would fund a new “Climate Superfund Cost Recovery Program” that would provide dedicated funding for everything from recovering from destructive climate and weather events to upgrading the transit system and electrical grid.

“New Jersey championed the creation of the Superfund program to clean up our toxic sites more than 40 years ago; it’s time that we have a Superfund program for our climate disasters. Our communities are facing increasing impacts from extreme weather fueled by climate change and there’s a clear link to the role of the large fossil fuel polluters. It’s time for climate polluters to pay for the damage they have inflicted,” said Doug O’Malley, Director of Environment New Jersey.

“New Jersey Working Families Alliance supports the aptly named “Climate Superfund” bill, particularly now, when the state is facing a $2 billion structural deficit and there is a real need for sustainable funds to support the many programs that help to uplift working families across the state. We know Black and brown communities have historically been disproportionately impacted by extreme weather from climate change, especially in our cities. It is high time that polluters contribute to pay for the damage that their pollution has fueled and will fuel in the decades to come, while fossil fuel companies put profits over our communities,”said Sunni Vargas, Political Director of the New Jersey Working Families Alliance.