Sustainable Jersey™ Honored by NJ Senate and General Assembly
Senator Codey, Assemblyman McKeon and Assemblywoman Jasey Present Resolution
Trenton, NJ (11.23.10) — Sustainable Jersey received a joint legislative resolution and a resounding round of applause at Monday's New Jersey Assembly voting session for its role in leading over half of the Garden State's towns and cities toward becoming more sustainable through its certification program.
Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee Chairman John McKeon of the 27th Legislative District presented the resolution to a Sustainable Jersey delegation that included: Fred Profeta, Jr., Chair of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities' Mayors' Committee for a Green Future (MCGF) and Deputy Mayor for the Environment for Maplewood Township; Randall Solomon and Donna Drewes, Co-Directors of the Institute for Sustainability Planning and Governance at the Municipal Land Use Center at The College of New Jersey (MLUC@TCNJ); Pamela Mount, Councilwoman of Lawrence Township and Vice-Chair of the MCGF; Arthur Ondish, Mayor of Mount Arlington and MCGF member; and Athena Sarafides, Sustainability Coordinator at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Senator Richard Codey and Assemblywoman Mila Jasey, also representing the 27th District, co-sponsored the legislation with Assemblyman McKeon.
"Sustainable Jersey's high ranking in the nation for inspiring change and engaging more than 56 percent of our state's towns to go green by certifying them as sustainable, is a significant accomplishment," said Assembly Environment Chairman John F. McKeon. "Considering only seven percent of our nation's energy comes from renewable sources, we still have a long way to go. By helping us ride the green wave, Sustainable Jersey is advancing our green economy," McKeon (D-Essex) added.
The resolution recognizes the far-reaching impact and speedy rise to the top for Sustainable Jersey, a two-year old program that is now the most successful statewide municipal sustainability certification program in the country. Currently 67 towns have achieved the rigorous Sustainable Jersey certification and 315 towns (56% of the state) are registered and working toward becoming certified. Over 6,700 people in New Jersey have participated in statewide training and outreach events in 2010. The program has distributed over half a million dollars to New Jersey communities to support an estimated 1,500 actions taken "on the ground" to make communities more livable, environmentally friendly and prosperous. More than 65% of the New Jersey's population lives in registered/certified Sustainable Jersey communities.
In October 2010, Sustainable Jersey triumphed as a winner of the national Ashoka/Community Matters Changemakers competition, "Strong Communities: Engaging Citizens, Strengthening Place, Inspiring Change." The program was recognized as a top social change innovation in the country. Sustainable Jersey was selected from 260 entrants in the competition. Today's legislative resolution also notes and honors the Sustainable Jersey program for this achievement.
Fred Profeta, Jr., Chair of the MCGF and Deputy Mayor for the Environment for Maplewood Township accepted the award on behalf of the Sustainable Jersey program. He thanked the Senate and General Assembly. "Sustainable Jersey is effectively working at the grassroots-level to engage every citizen of the state in an effort to promote sustainability. New Jersey is now number one and we are very pleased for your recognition and special tribute today."
"Sustainable Jersey is a unique and innovative partnership between municipalities, state agencies and community organizations that has prompted 315 of the Garden State's towns and cities to apply to become certified as sustainable by reducing waste, cutting greenhouse gas emissions and improving environmental equity," said Assemblywoman Mila M. Jasey (D-Essex). "It is an amazing accomplishment and exactly the kind of initiative we need for grassroots-level mobilization to protect and preserve our environment."
About Sustainable Jersey
Sustainable Jersey is a certification program for municipalities in New Jersey that want to go green, save money, and take steps to sustain their quality of life over the long term. New Jersey is the first state in the nation to have a comprehensive sustainability program for communities that links certification with strong state and private financial incentives, and a fully resourced program of technical support and training. Over 300 of New Jersey's towns and cities (55%-or 312 towns across all 21 counties) have registered to become Sustainable Jersey certified. By supporting community efforts to reduce waste, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and improve environmental equity, Sustainable Jersey is empowering New Jersey towns to build a better world for future generations.
Sustainable Jersey is a collaborative effort between the
New Jersey State League of Municipalities' Mayors' Committee for a Green Future and the
Municipal Land Use Center at The College of New Jersey, in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. The policies and other substantive contents of the program are developed though a transparent participatory process involving NG0s, academics, government, and the business community. Program sponsors include the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, PSEG Foundation, New Jersey Natural Gas, Church and Dwight, Covanta Energy, Elizabethtown Gas, Nautilus Solar, the Smart Energy Group, United Water, Verizon, Atlantic City Electric and
CDS-Xerox. www.sustainablejersey.com
