Category: LegacyImport2

HRC Scores New Jersey Companies’ LGBTQ-Inclusive Workplace Policies

WASHINGTON  DC (January, 2020)—

America’s leading companies and law firms are stepping up in record numbers to adopt increasingly forward-looking policies and practices to meet the needs of their lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) workers in the U.S. and abroad, according to the

2020

Corporate Equality Index

(CEI) released today by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, the educational arm of the nation’s largest LGBTQ civil rights organization.

In the most rigorous assessment of LGBTQ-inclusive workplace policies and practices to date, a record of more than 680 companies have been designated a

Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality

by the HRC Foundation for their efforts in satisfying all of the CEI’s criteria results, earning them a 100 percent rating.

Top-scoring companies include 23 in New Jersey.

In total, 1059 companies and law firms were officially rated in the new CEI, up from 1028 in last year’s survey. The report also unofficially rated 122 Fortune 500 companies, which have yet to respond to an invitation to participate in the CEI survey assessing their LGBTQ policies and practices.

The average score for companies and law firms based in New Jersey is 86 percent. Of the 46 companies ranked, 23 earned 100 points, 31 earned 90 points and above, and 38 earned 80 points and above.

For the first time, HRC this year is giving special recognition to the 11 companies that earned top marks on all three of HRC’s workplace equality assessments: the CEI, as well as

Equidad MX

and

Equidad CL

. HRC’s groundbreaking Equidad program recognizes Latin American companies and U.S. multinational companies for their work in Mexico and Chile.

“These companies know that protecting their LGBTQ employees and customers from discrimination is not just the right thing to do — it is also the best business decision. In addition, many of these leaders are also advocating for the LGBTQ community and equality under the law in the public square,” said

HRC President Alphonso David

. “From supporting LGBTQ civil rights protections in the U.S. through HRC’s Business Coalition for the Equality Act, to featuring transgender and non-binary people in an ad in Argentina, to advocating for marriage equality in Taiwan — businesses understand their LGBTQ employees and customers deserve to be seen, valued and respected not only at work, but in every aspect of daily life.”

Employer

Headquarters Location

State

2020 CEI Rating

ADP

Roseland

NJ

100

American Express Global Business Travel

Jersey City

NJ

100

BASF Corp.

Florham Park

NJ

100

Bayer U.S. LLC

Whippany

NJ

100

Becton, Dickinson and Co.

Franklin Lakes

NJ

100

Celgene Corp.

Summit

NJ

100

Day Pitney LLP

Parsippany

NJ

100

Dun & Bradstreet Corp., The

Short Hills

NJ

100

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey

Newark

NJ

100

Johnson & Johnson

New Brunswick

NJ

100

Mathematica Policy Research

Princeton

NJ

100

Merck

Kenilworth

NJ

100

Nestle Health Science

Bridgewater

NJ

100

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp.

East Hanover

NJ

100

Pearson Inc.

Hoboken

NJ

100

Prudential Financial Inc.

Newark

NJ

100

Quest Diagnostics Inc.

Secaucus

NJ

100

Samsung Electronics America Inc.

Ridgefield Park

NJ

100

Sanofi

Bridgewater

NJ

100

Subaru of America Inc.

Cherry Hill

NJ

100

TD Bank, N.A.

Cherry Hill

NJ

100

Unilever

Englewood Cliffs

NJ

100

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Inc.

Parsippany

NJ

100

Avis Budget Group Inc.

Parsippany

NJ

95

Novo Nordisk Inc.

Plainsboro

NJ

95

Aero OpCo LLC

Lyndhurst

NJ

90

Ascena Retail Group Inc.

Mahwah

NJ

90

Mars Inc.

Mt. Olive

NJ

90

Realogy Holdings Corp.

Madison

NJ

90

Wipro Ltd.

East Brunswick

NJ

90

Campbell Soup Co.

Camden

NJ

85

John Wiley & Sons Inc.

Hoboken

NJ

85

Public Service Enterprise Group

Newark

NJ

85

Burlington Stores Inc.

Burlington

NJ

80

Conduent Inc.

Florham Park

NJ

80

Firmenich Inc.

Plainsboro

NJ

80

Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC

Jersey City

NJ

80

McCarter & English LLP

Newark

NJ

80

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp.

Teaneck

NJ

70

NRG Energy Inc.

Princeton

NJ

65

Honeywell International Inc.

Morris Plains

NJ

60

Newell Brands Inc.

Hoboken

NJ

60

Selective Insurance Group

Branchville

NJ

40

Software House International

Somerset

NJ

30

Bed Bath & Beyond Inc.

Union

NJ

20

PBF Energy

Parsippany

NJ

20

More than 260 top businesses — including 191 that earned top scores on the CEI — are also

corporate supporters on the Equality Act

, critically important bipartisan legislation that would finally add clear, comprehensive non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people to our nation\’s civil rights laws. While the Supreme Court decides whether LGBTQ people are protected by federal employment non-discrimination law, these companies are holding the line for their employees and their families.

Other key findings revealed in the 2020 CEI:

The more than 680 companies who earned a 100 on the CEI represent 12.4 million employees nationally, 11.9 million globally and earn a combined estimate of $12.9 trillion in revenue.

Eighty-three companies participated in the CEI for the first time in 2020 with 36 debuting at a score of 100 — including Etsy Inc., Peloton Interactive Inc. and Stop & Shop, and Warner Music Group.

Of all Fortune 500 companies, 93% have sexual orientaiton in their U.S. non-discrimination policy, and 91% have gender identity.

The average CEI score for all Fortune 500 companies increased from 67 to 71 in the past year — with actively participating Fortune 500 companies having an average score of 90, up from 88 last year.

Over the last several years, CEI-rated companies have dramatically expanded their support for transgender workers. This year 89% percent of companies participating in the CEI offer at least one health care policy that is inclusive of their transgender workers, and 85% percent met stringent criteria that requires all blanket exclusions of medically-necessary care for transgender workers be removed from all health policies the company offers — up from 73% last year.

The CEI rates companies and top law firms on detailed criteria in four broad categories:

Non-discrimination policies

Employment benefits

Supporting an inclusive culture and corporate social responsibility including public commitment to LGBTQ equality

Responsible citizenship

The full report is available online at

www.hrc.org/cei.

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of America\’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.

Alumna Makes $250,000 Gift to Establish Endowment for Childhood Studies

By Tom McLaughlin

Rutgers University–Camden

will continue to be a global leader at the forefront of research and initiatives focused on improving the lives, opportunities, and understanding of children, thanks to a $250,000 gift from alumna Nancy Shuman to establish the Nancy Seagrave Shuman Endowment for Childhood Studies.

Shuman, a 1968 graduate of the Rutgers–Camden

College of Arts and Sciences

(CCAS) with a bachelor’s degree in medical technology, established the fund to ensure that various initiatives within Rutgers–Camden’s

Department of Childhood Studies

will receive ongoing support in perpetuity.

“The well-being of children is deeply important to me,” says the Allentown, Pa., resident. “I hope that my gift provides increased momentum for the Department of Childhood Studies and related programs at Rutgers–Camden to help make a difference in the lives of children in the Camden community, the Greater Delaware Valley region, and beyond.”

Howard Marchitello, dean of the

Faculty of Arts and Sciences

at Rutgers–Camden, praises Shuman for her continued support of Rutgers–Camden’s Department of Childhood Studies and its students. He notes that, because of her generosity, the students’ work will, in turn, be dedicated to ensuring the general well-being of students in Camden City and the greater South Jersey region.

“This act of generosity will reach countless beneficiaries for many years to come,” says Marchitello. “The College of Arts and Sciences is deeply moved by Ms. Shuman’s support and faith in our faculty and students, and in the vision of our Department of Childhood Studies.”

After earning a state scholarship, Shuman was drawn to Rutgers–Camden for the medical technology degree that it offered at that time. She remembers that she was among only three students in the inaugural cohort of the major and the intensive coursework was largely the same as for pre-medicine.

After completing three years of the four-year degree, she served a 12-month internship at the former West Jersey Hospital in Voorhees.

Upon graduating from Rutgers–Camden, Shuman continued working as a medical technologist in the blood bank at West Jersey Hospital.

She and her husband, Clyde, later settled in Allentown, where he and a partner founded Precision Medical, a global leader in respiratory devices.

Shuman has been a generous benefactor to Rutgers–Camden over the years, previously contributing to the CCAS Dean’s Endowed Scholarship Fund and the Center for Children and Childhood Studies Gift Fund.

Rutgers–Camden’s Department of Childhood Studies focuses on putting the issues, concepts, and debates that surround the study of children and childhoods at the center of its research and teaching missions.

Nancy and Clyde Shuman

Through a multidisciplinary approach, childhood studies aims both to theorize and historicize the figure of the child and to situate the study of children and childhoods within contemporary cultural and global contexts.

The curriculum in the department spans several disciplines in scope and purpose, and provides students with a strong background in both humanistic and social science perspectives on children and their representations. This approach prepares students for careers in many areas, including academics, public policy, social services, youth programming, and education.

Rutgers–Camden launched the nation’s first Ph.D. program in childhood studies in 2007. The program provides an advanced theoretical and methodological study of children and childhood. It prepares scholars capable of innovative research in this interdisciplinary field, as well as policy leaders with new perspectives in child-related social practice.

Rescue Puppy Named New Voice Of The TurfMutt Foundation

(NAPSI)—A puppy named Mulligan has big paws to fill, but the mixed breed rescue dog is up to the challenge of becoming the new voice for the TurfMutt Foundation, says his new owner and guardian, Kris Kiser, President of the organization.

Since 2009, Kiser’s rescue dog, Lucky, “pawed it forward” by leading the Foundation’s environmental education and stewardship program for students in grades K to 8. Sadly, Lucky passed away recently, but his superhero cape is being picked up by perky Mulligan, who was found by Kiser last month during Lucky’s Mutt Madness, a national pet adoption event organized by the Foundation during GIE+EXPO, the nation’s leading trade show for outdoor power, landscaping and hardscaping industry professionals, held each October in Louisville, Ky.

Mulligan was not the only rescue pup to find a new home. Fifteen other dogs from the Kentucky Humane Society also went home with new owners.

Carl Bennett and his family brought home a beagle mix puppy, named Jovial. “She is completely living up to her name. She’s happy and sweet and loves everyone. She’s very smart and is already learning tricks,” said Bennett.

Bennett admits they weren’t planning to bring a puppy home but added, “When we saw her sweet little face and floppy ears we all fell in love. We never expected to adopt but something told us she needed to be a part of our family.

A ten-year-old dog named Mama went home with Mark Potocki. He was concerned she wouldn’t get the love she deserved because she was older. “Once I had the chance to hold her, she curled up in my arms and my decision was made,” said Potocki.

He said Lucky’s Mutt Madness was a wonderful experience. “What a great event. The vibe of the afternoon was fun and drew attention to the need for pet adoption,” said Potocki.

Kiser is deep into puppy training for Mulligan. “As a spokesdog, TurfMutt has to visit schools, and sometimes goes with me for public appearances and on TV sets, so Mulligan needs to be well-socialized and know how to behave.”

“Mutt Mulligan” marks a new page in the TurfMutt platform, which grew from a youth education program launched in 2009 in a handful of Sacramento and Washington, D.C. schools to reaching 70 million students, teachers, and families with its message that everyone can help save the planet, starting with their backyard.

Kiser added, “People can understand the value of a living landscape, when they see it through the eyes of a dog. You suddenly realize that soft grass is kinder to paws than hard concrete and that you need shade and a variety of plants in your yard.”

The TurfMutt program has become a national platform, appearing on every major television network, The Hub, Animal Planet and more, including the award-winning show, “Lucky Dog,” for three seasons; being featured in Parade magazine’s Earth Day issue; and winning awards. TurfMutt is an official USGBC Education Partner and part of its global LEARNING LAB, and has been an education resource at the U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Green Apple, the Center for Green Schools, the Outdoors Alliance for Kids, the National Energy Education Development (NEED) project, Climate Change Live, Petfinder and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

More information on Lucky’s Mutt Madness event and the program is at

www.TurfMutt.com

.

GLOUCESTER CITY AWARDED $400,000 FROM NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS

Funds to be used to replace water, sewer lines along Sussex Avenue

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ –

The City of Gloucester was recently awarded $400,000 from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to be used to replace the water and combined sewer lines along Sussex Avenue between Market Street and Cumberland Street, announced Mayor Daniel Spencer today.

“We are appreciative of the DCA’s award and very pleased that our application was so favorably received,” said Spencer.

According to Spencer, r

eplacing the water and sewer lines along Sussex Street is a priority for the City in light of the age and condition of the existing system.

“Much of the infrastructure throughout Gloucester City is over 110 years old,” Spencer stated.

“As a result, it is deteriorating and becoming a financial burden on the City’s budget.”

In the instance of Sussex Street infrastructure, Spencer noted, there are aging water and sewer lines that are also being overused due to the significant increase in residential and commercial growth over the past one hundred years.

Consequently, he said, the existing lines are in need of removal and replacement.

T

he money for this project comes from the DCA’s Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program – an extremely competitive funding opportunity that provides grants to develop or improve public facilities and infrastructure that primarily benefit low-income persons and to rehabilitate housing owned and occupied by low- and moderate-income residents.

Typically, DCA approves approximately two dozen applications each year, totaling roughly $6 million.

Gloucester City’s application was written by Triad Associates of Vineland – a community and economic development firm that has secured nearly $1 billion in funding for its clients over the past 41 years.

“The City of Gloucester has long been committed to improving critical public infrastructure for the benefit of our residents,” Spencer concluded.

“This latest award is a continuation of that commitment, and we look forward to the positive impact it will have on our community.”

Differences Between Motorized and Non-Motorized Whitewater Rafting Trips in the Grand Canyon

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(January 22, 2020)–In this day and age, we live most of our lives following our usual routines. We get up early, prepare for the day ahead, head on to school or work, take some few breaks, get to work again, before we finally go home and drag ourselves to bed so we can rest and prepare to do the same routine the following day. Of course, leading a healthy life is necessary but don’t you think following a strict routine could be monotonous and boring at some point?

This is why we seek adventure. We try to find ways to do unique and once-in-a-lifetime experiences to tick off that bucket list. We feel a different sense of accomplishment if we’re able to do something out of the box, something that we once thought of as unachievable.

If you’re prepared to take the big leap of experiencing the adventure outdoors, one of the many little thrillers to get you started is the white water rafting. This is a kind of water sport where you get to dodge whirlpools and rocks while rushing down a wild rapid river on board a rubber boat. And if isn’t enough of an adventure, imagine wearing only a life jacket and no seatbelts. Now that is thrilling!

The

Grand Canyon

is one of the best places to experience white water rafting. If you’re planning for an adventure at the canyon, it’s best that you learn all the basic things necessary about water rafting.

First thing to learn is the

boat type for the rafting

. There are several types you can consider: non-motorized rafts like the oar rafts, dories, and paddle raps, and the motorized rafts. A lot of people see themselves paddling thru the 225-mile whitewater rapids of the Grand Canyon. However, this can be quite tiring especially it is common to see upstream winds in the water. Thus oar trips are better options. This will give you ample intimacy and pace of the rapids, without the strain. It’s been noted that guests have successfully manned their whitewater adventures using oar rafts with the careful instructions of professional guides.

The downside also of oar trips (as well as the other non-motorized rafts) is that it can be tough for people. The whole trip takes about 13 days; plus the hiking in and out of the canyon along the way, may cause physical strain to some.

Motorized trips therefore are more convenient options. Guests can enjoy a full canyon trip in just seven days. Most motorized rafts run on 30 horsepower, averaging about 8 mph. That’s a far cry from the 4mph average speed you get when taking the non-motorized options.

Another consideration you need to note are the canyon trip terms. A full canyon trip runs between 188 and 280 river miles. This trip allows you to experience the most amazing side hikes and the biggest rapids in the river. The upper canyon trip, on the other hand, runs about 87-89 miles. You need to be physically prepared for this trip since this will involve intense hiking

out of the Grand Canyon. Trails are rocky and steep and offers very little shade along the way. This is ideal only for the experienced hikers.

The cost is also one thing to check out for a Grand Canyon whitewater rafting adventure. Depending on the type of trip you want, you have several options to consider: from the transportation to lodging, and even the cost of the camping gears. The final cost will generally vary. It is always wise to do your research before you book for that Grand Canyon adventure.

Pemberton Drug Dealer Indicted for Causing the Death of Customer

Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina announced that a drug dealer from the Browns Mills section of Pemberton Township has been indicted for causing the death of a customer by supplying the fentanyl-laced

Terrance Walker

heroin that led to her fatal overdose last year.

Terrance D. Walker, 37, of Liberty Street, was indicted on charges of Strict Liability for Drug-Induced Death (First Degree), Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (Third Degree), two counts of Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (Third Degree) and two counts of Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance with Intent to Distribute (Third Degree).

The indictment was returned January 9 and signed by Prosecutor Coffina. An arraignment will be scheduled soon in Superior Court. Walker has been held in the Burlington County Jail in Mount Holly since his arrest in October.

The investigation began in May 2019 after Tessa McCullough, 21, was taken to a Mount Holly hospital following an overdose in her Pemberton Township home. She was subsequently pronounced dead at the hospital.

An autopsy performed by Burlington County Medical Examiner Dr. Ian Hood determined that her death was due to fentanyl toxicity. The investigation revealed that the drugs that caused the fatal overdose were purchased from Walker.

Walker is being prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Jeremy Lackey.

The case was investigated by the Pemberton Township Police Department, the BCPO Gang, Gun and Narcotics Task Force and the BCPO High-Tech Crimes Unit, with assistance from the Mount Holly Township Police Department. The lead investigator was Pemberton Township Police Detective Thomas Lucas.

An indictment is an accusation. Defendants are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty.

Impact Of Climate Change on Humans and Forests

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(January 22, 2020)–Eight is coming down to seven, with half the planet already having been destroyed. How long do you think the earth can sustain the weight of negativity? With the current conditions, probably not for long. While life ebbs out of people, authorities are still abstracted of the fact that earth is on the verge of annihilation. The conniving deeds of humans have paved half the way to oblivion, while the foundation to the other half has already been laid.

Glaciers are melting into the rivers of a dark future where an evolutionary reversal is bound to happen. With the world having already stepped into an unforgettable age of greed and savagery, more is undoubtedly taking form. Do any of you know for certain every little event that is pushing the world towards a collapse? The answer would be a straight-out \’NO\’ since more than half of what is happening around us stays unrevealed.

Levels of Climate Change Impact

A rise in temperature all across the globe.

Destruction of several resources affect the growth of crops, production of food, and further leads to the outbreak of diseases.

Death of flora and fauna.

Impacts on Forests

While the impeachment and potential world war updates took over the television screens and front pages of every newspaper, brutally trivialized natural disasters burnt the green face of the earth. The Amazon rainforest wildfires and the Australian bushfires were warnings from the substrates of an imminent cataclysm. It is only when the fire consumes one of us that we get cautious and move stealthily towards a secure future. But this time the planet isn\’t giving humans another chance to live through the disaster and beyond. Sighs of exhaustion have already taken the form of floods, meltdowns and forest fires, which if not addressed with concern at the earliest, can take down the entire planet.

Changes in temperature, weather, and rainfall are just a few factors that affect the productivity and growth of forests. A surge in the levels of carbon dioxide can also harm the prolific trees and animal inhabitants.

The growing season gets prolonged with the warming temperatures, and this would further lead to the shift of geographic ranges of some tree species. Local or regional species could also be at risk if the conditions in the present habitats are unfavorable for growth. Make sure that you clear all the unwanted overgrown trees and plant new ones, as the earth pleads for it. A

tree company

can help you uproot the trees and free your plots of the redundant greenery.

Chances for floods, droughts and excessive precipitation is likely to increase with the changing climatic conditions. The availability of water can also get affected by the alter in the timing of snowmelt. With the increasing temperatures, droughts are likely to be more adverse than it was in the past. They can impose a huge risk since dry shrubs and trees are potential detonators of wildfires.

Impacts on Human Beings

With the rise in temperatures, dehydration within humans will also increase. Deaths resulting from such adverse climatic conditions would be countless and can keep on rising until obliteration occurs. Humans are likely to be afflicted with sunstrokes and diseases related to the cardiovascular, respiratory, and cerebrovascular systems if they are exposed to extreme heat. Populations in the northern latitudes could get severely affected by the excessive heat.

Athletes, outdoor workers, and homeless people spend most of their time in the sunlight, and the heat could ebb all their energy and gradually lead to death. People with certain medical conditions, pregnant women, children, and older adults could be more vulnerable to the heat. People from urban areas could get affected more by the heat waves since rural areas have recorded relatively lower temperatures in the past years.

Conclusion

Earth is rolling down the slope towards destruction; there is no denial. All living beings, from humans to animals to trees, are going to be affected by the changing climatic conditions. Reversal of catastrophes isn\’t possible, so take immediate necessary steps to stop it before the deluges subdue the whole planet.

Burlington County Authorities Arrest 6 After Investigation into Recent Shootings

Nasir Harper

Daymon Thomas

Terrance McKinney

Samir Ellis

Nasir Hickson

Yakim Thomas

Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina announced that a multi-agency investigation in response to recent shootings in Mount Holly and Willingboro Township has led to six individuals being arrested on weapons and drug charges.

Nasir Harper, 22, of Bordentown City, was charged with two counts of Unlawful Possession of a Handgun (Second Degree), Receiving Stolen Property (Third Degree), Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance with Intent to Distribute (Third Degree), Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (Fourth Degree) and two counts of Possession of High-Capacity Magazines (Fourth Degree), including one that held 30 rounds.

Daymon Thomas, 21, of Bordentown City, and Terrance McKinney, 21, of Pemberton Township, were charged with Unlawful Possession of a Handgun (Second Degree) and Certain Persons Not to Possess a Firearm (Second Degree).

The following people were charged with Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance with Intent to Distribute (Third Degree) and Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (Fourth Degree): Samir Ellis, 21, of Willingboro; Nasir Hickson, 19, of Willingboro; and Yakim Thomas, 19 of Bordentown City.

Nobody was struck by gunfire during the shootings, which occurred in September near Dellhurst Lane and Beechfern Lane in Willingboro and in December on Garden Street in Mount Holly. None of the defendants has been charged to date in connection with the shootings.

“I would like to commend all of the agencies that participated in this investigation for their diligence and coordination in response to these shooting incidents,” Prosecutor Coffina said. “We will continue to aggressively pursue those who put the public at risk with such reckless, unlawful conduct.”

The arrests were made between January 7 and January 9. The charges will now be presented to a grand jury for possible indictment. Harper, McKinney and Daymon Thomas were ordered detained by a Superior Court judge and lodged in the Burlington County Jail. Ellis, Hickson and Yakim Thomas were released.

The cases will be prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Jamie Hutchinson.

The investigation was conducted by the BCPO Gang, Gun and Narcotics Task Force, the United States Marshals Service New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force, the New Jersey State Police, the Burlington County Sheriff’s Department, the Burlington Township Police Department, the Pemberton Township Police Department and the Willingboro Township Police Department.

All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

NJ Fixes Solar Program Bill For Now

Governor Murphy signed S4275 (Smith) into law. The bill allows BPU to increase cost to customers of Class I renewable energy requirement for energy years 2022 through 2024, under certain conditions.

“This new law will temporarily stop the solar market from crashing, but we need to do more. This will raise the cost cap, which lets more sunlight in and allows the solar program to move forward. Our concern is that this is a stopgap instead of a real solution. We have said from the beginning that the cost cap would hurt the solar industry and cause it to crash. This legislation is just a short-term fix that averages the cost cap out over five years to extend the program. Under this bill we can only get to 200 Megawatts per year instead of the 500 MW that we need to reach our clean energy goals,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “We should be completely getting rid of the cap. We don’t have caps on energy from coal, nuclear, oil, or gas. Having a cap on solar hurts renewable energy and favors fossil fuels.”

The bill would allow the BPU to increase the cost cap on Class I renewable energy requirements if the total energy costs during energy years 2019 through 2021 is less than 9%. Since the solar program went into effect about 10 years ago, solar has become 29 percent more efficient and gone down in price by 25 percent.

“We are glad that Murphy signed this bill because it will help extend the solar program, but we need a real fix. Having a cost cap on solar will only allow for a modest solar program. This law raises the cost cap and averages it out over five years. If the costs exceed the limit the BPU is still required to set aside the Renewable Portfolio Standard for that year. You also have to factor in legacy SRECs as well as transition SRECs. Our concern is that even with this change in the law it will not allow us to have a robust solar program,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “We need to remove the cost cap, but we also need to come up with a new solar program that is more cost effective and works for all of New Jersey. This includes looking at other funding mechanisms and regulations to push for solar programs to get done.”

Barrington PD Traffic Alert: Clements Bridge Rd at Gloucester Pike Detour

Barrington Police Department advises you to AVOID Location due to an upcoming traffic issue. A road construction project near Clements Bridge RD and Trinity PL. will close Clements Bridge

RD. Southbound at Gloucester Pike and will require a detour of traffic from January 27-29 7:00am to 5:00pm. Southbound vehicles can either take W. Gloucester Pike into Bellmawr and utilize Black Horse Pike, or take E. Gloucester Pike to utilize Atlantic Ave and White Horse Pike.

Address/Location

Barrington Borough, NJ

229 Trenton Ave

Barrington, NJ 08007

Contact

Emergency: 9-1-1

Non-emergencies: 856-547-0706