NEW JERSEY — Fulfilling his promise to restore New Jersey’s national leadership in the fight against climate change and sea-level rise, Governor Phil Murphy today announced that the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has formally adopted two rules returning New Jersey to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). New Jersey was a charter member of RGGI before Governor Christie withdrew the state from the compact in 2012.

“Climate change and sea-level rise affect us all, and as a coastal state, New Jersey is especially vulnerable to the impacts of global warming,” said Governor Murphy. “The reckless decision to pull out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative in 2012 cost the state millions of dollars in revenue that could have been used to put toward initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve the health of our residents. New Jersey has reemerged as a national leader in fighting climate change and reentering the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative will propel us on a path to 100 percent clean energy by 2050.”

The first rule, the Carbon Dioxide Budget Trading rule, establishes the mechanisms for rejoining RGGI and sets the initial carbon-dioxide cap for the state’s electricity generation sector at 18 million tons in 2020. New Jersey’s carbon dioxide budget will decline by 30 percent through 2030, with other adjustments that are standard to all member states. The model used to develop the New Jersey carbon budget only considers emissions from currently operating electric generating facilities. Through a combination of RGGI’s required carbon-dioxide reductions and Governor Murphy’s aggressive renewable energy goals, the Department of Environmental Protection projects that the state’s greenhouse gas emissions will be 11.3 million tons by 2030. 

The second rule, the Global Warming Solutions Fund rule, establishes the framework for how the DEP, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities will implement a system to spend proceeds from RGGI carbon-dioxide allowance auctions, with an emphasis on projects that will benefit environmental justice in certain communities.

The DEP adopted the rules today with their publication in the New Jersey Register. In the coming months, RGGI member states will vote on New Jersey’s adopted rules and formal reentry, which will allow the state to participate in the first-quarter RGGI auction in March 2020.

“Not only is our coastline at risk from global warming, so are our densely populated urban areas and communities that are susceptible to river and stream flooding,” said New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe. “While New Jersey has one of the cleanest electric generation portfolios in the country, resuming participation in RGGI provides the impetus for even further carbon dioxide reduction and is an important component of our comprehensive plan to address climate change.”

“Mitigating the impacts of climate change is one of the most significant challenges we face,” New Jersey Board of Public Utilities President Joseph L. Fiordaliso said. “Rejoining RGGI is a crucial step toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving our goal of 100 percent clean energy by 2050. I am proud to serve in an administration that places such a high priority on creating a safer, healthier, more economically sound future for our children and grandchildren.”

“Under Governor Murphy’s leadership, New Jersey is positioning itself to be at the forefront of the clean energy economy and participating again in RGGI will be a major milestone toward that goal,” New Jersey Economic Development Authority Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan said. “The NJEDA is thrilled to be partnering with Commissioner McCabe and her team to maximize the opportunities presented to New Jersey to combat climate change and create sustainable jobs at the same time.”

The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative is made up of Mid-Atlantic and New England states working to reduce carbon-dioxide gas emissions from the energy sector through a cap-and-trade auction process that encourages more market efficiencies, invests in renewable energy, and improves power-plant technology. RGGI’s members are Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

Returning New Jersey to RGGI has been a priority for Governor Murphy since the outset of his administration. In his first month in office, the Governor issued Executive Order No. 7 directing the state to rejoin RGGI and develop a program that implements solutions that benefit communities that are disproportionately impacted by climate change.

“We congratulate and salute New Jersey on this historic step. The effects of climate change and pollution operate across state lines, so it is important for states to work together as a region to take on these issues and move towards a cleaner power sector,” said Ben Grumbles, Secretary of the Maryland Department of the Environment and Chair of the RGGI, Inc. Board of Directors. “New Jersey has communicated frequently with the RGGI states in the design of the final rule. We thank and applaud them for their efforts and very much look forward to working together as RGGI participating states.”

PARSIPPANY —  Two hikers were stranded on Mount Washington Thursday when temperatures at the summit were below freezing and the wind chill plunged to 12 degrees. One hiker was carried off the mountain and rushed to a hospital where she was pronounced dead. The other was found in the fetal position on a trail, unable to walk or speak.

The first call for help came in at approximately 2:25 p.m. Thursday, according to a statement from the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department.

Officials said Sandra Lee, 63, of Mount Tabor, was hiking with two of her relatives when she began to show signs of hypothermia and could no longer continue. They were above the junction of Lion Head Trail and Tuckerman Ravine Trail when they called 911.

Two conservation officers carried Lee two-tenths of a mile to Mount Washington Auto Road, where an ambulance was waiting and drove her to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Less than six hours after receiving the 911 call for Lee, authorities learned that yet another hiker needed to be rescued from Mount Washington.

MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Prosecutor Fredric Knapp and Acting Chief of Investigations Chris Kimker announce the hiring and swearing in of Jermaine Marbley as a Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Detective.

Detective Marbley was officially given his oath of office on June 10, 2019. He will be assigned to the Domestic Violence Unit within the Specialized Crimes Division. Detective Marbley is a graduate of Gibbs College and the Southeastern Public Safety Institute at St. Petersburg College. Prior to joining the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, Detective Marbley has worked as an Officer and Detective in the Newark Police Department, and most recently as an Officer in the Morristown Bureau of Police. He was assigned to various units in those departments including, the Firearms Unit, the Patrol Unit, the Narcotics Unit, and the Domestic Violence Unit including the Family Justice Center.

Prosecutor Knapp said, “Detective Marbley joins our office with over 12 years of law enforcement experience under his belt. We are excited to have such an experienced member of our law enforcement community join our ranks, and we know he will serve Morris County with distinction”.

MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Prosecutor Fredric Knapp and Acting Chief of Investigations Chris Kimker announce that on Wednesday, June 12, a Morris County jury found Aldophus Mims, 42, of Charlotte, North Carolina, guilty of four counts of first degree Human Trafficking, three counts first degree Promoting Prostitution, two counts second degree Sexual Assault, one count of third degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child, and two counts third degree Distribution of Heroin. This was the first Human Trafficking of a Minor trial in Morris County history.

The Honorable Donald G. Collester, J.S.C., retired and acting on recall, presided over the trial, and will sentence Mims at a later date to be determined.

Mims was subsequently remanded to the Morris County Correctional Facility pending sentencing. At sentencing, he faces a minimum of twenty years New Jersey State Prison without possibility of parole to potential consecutive Life Sentences.  He will also be subject to registration pursuant to Megan’s Law and Parole Supervision for Life.

The crimes themselves occurred over a one week span in June of 2015, when Mr. Mims provided heroin to two juvenile females, then aged 15 and 17, and enticed them to engage in acts of  prostitution at a Rockaway Township hotel. Mr. Mims would then collect the money received after the sexual acts were completed. The 15-year old victim also disclosed that Mr. Mims engaged in sexual acts with her. Mims then transported the victims to a different hotel in Parsippany to have them continue to engage in acts of prostitution.

At trial, the defendant alleged that he had in fact provided drugs, engaged in sexual acts and encouraged the prostitution of two females, but claimed that the women he was talking about were different then the two juvenile victims.

MORRIS COUNTY — On Tuesday, June 11, the IRS issued final regulations prohibiting governments from doling out tax credits in exchange for charitable contributions – effectively negating the legislation advanced in the spring of 2018, despite the objections of legislators such as Senator Pennacchio, who warned that the IRS would take action.

“Democrats need to stop making promises they can’t keep,” Senator Joe Pennacchio (R-26) said. “There is a reason why we didn’t see scores of municipalities jump at the chance to take advantage of this scheme to get around the removal of the SALT cap. It was clear from the beginning that the IRS wouldn’t allow it, which is why I spoke out in opposition.

“If we really want to cut property taxes, then we need to pass the fiscal reforms necessary to get our State budget back on track – and stop trying to circumvent the federal government.”

State and local tax (SALT) deductions previously provided American families and retirees about $100 billion in property relief.

“Many have stated that New Jersey was hit especially hard by the SALT cap repeal, but our property tax crisis is years in the making,” Senator Pennacchio added. “I hope that we can work together on a bipartisan basis to develop real solutions, instead of fighting with the federal government and giving our hardworking families false options and false hope. Let’s get to work and cut high taxes now.”