Gov. Jon S. Corzine, D-N.J., was named one of the nation's top 10 Greenest Governors by Greenopia, an online directory of eco-friendly retailers, services and organizations. The governor, who ranked ninth, was recognized for his Energy Master Plan (a renewable energy plan), as well as for his efforts to curb greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
‘I'm pleased to be in the company of these nine governors who are taking bold steps to preserve the environment in their home states,’ says Corzine. ‘Our efforts here in New Jersey, from reducing GHG emissions to harvesting offshore wind power, will secure New Jersey's environmental and energy future and move our state toward being more energy independent.’
In 2007, Corzine signed an executive order to mandate a reduction in GHG emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, and an 80% reduction by 2050 that he signed into law later that year with the legislature's passage of the Global Warming Response Act.
In addition, Corzine signed a bill into law enabling New Jersey to participate in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, the first mandatory cap-and-trade program in the nation for carbon dioxide emissions.
His Energy Master Plan includes plans for maximizing the state's energy conservation and energy efficiency to achieve reductions in energy consumption of at least 20% by 2020; reducing peak demand for electricity by 5,700 MW by 2020; achieving 30% of the state's electricity needs from renewable sources by 2020, and investing in clean energy technologies and businesses to stimulate the industry's growth in New Jersey.
The plan also calls for harnessing offshore energy resources located on the Outer Continental Shelf.
The top 10 green governors are:
– Bill Ritter, D-Colo.,
– Arnold Schwarzenegger, R-Calif.,
– Ted Kulongoski, D-Ore.,
– Christine Gregoire, D-Wash.,
– John Baldacci, D-Maine,
– Martin O'Malley, D-Md.,
– Bill Richardson, D-N.M.,
– James Douglas, R-Vt.,
– Jon Corzine, D-N.J., and
– M. Jodi Rell, R-Conn.
SOURCE: Office of Gov. Jon S. Corzine
