Bob Erickson 12.6/2021 email to NJ legislators, with copy to Gov. Murphy

[I have sent the letter as modified below, though I doubt my modifications would make a scintilla of difference.  I too got a response from the governor's office immediately.]

"I am writing as a resident of New Jersey, who is extremely concerned about the dangers that climate change presents to this state, to demand that you halt A5655 and S4133 from advancing further. Neither of these bills deserved a hearing, and they certainly should not be rushed through committee during the lame duck session and the holidays.

S4133 is particularly contrary to the need to reduce global warming in that it would prevent the state from eventually setting necessary goals for building electrification, e.g. via heat pumps, that will be required in order to achieve sufficient carbon/Greenhouse Gas reduction in time to save our planet from the worst consequences of global warming.  S4133 will NOT reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and instead does the opposite by encouraging and requiring continued carbon emissions via the dirty gas infrastructure.   

A4655 serves  to mandate continued burning of carbon emitting fuels (waste methane in this case) and methane leakage with damage to the planet and perpetuates a "gas" mentality that serves the gas industry only and hides what needs to be done from the consumer while also mandating high levels of waste methane inclusion in gas pipelines subsidized by the consumer.  

Both of these bills are holiday gifts to the gas lobby and will make it difficult or impossible to achieve our greenhouse gas reduction targets and avert climate catastrophe.  A5655 actively harms any effort to move towards a carbon-free future and S4133 will put ratepayers on the hook to pay for unnecessary investments in frack gas. With limited time remaining to avert the worst impacts of climate change, why is the legislature considering bills that help the gas lobby and make our climate worse?

 Neither of these bills should be moved to the floor.

Thank you for your time.