Welcome to Clean Water on the Move, your monthly update from Clean Water Action and Clean Water Fund! We’ve been busy as always but finding time to enjoy some of these warmer days as spring approaches. Thank you for all you do to support Clean Water and our mission.
Newark: A Leader on Getting the Lead Out
On February 11th, Clean Water Action's very own Environmental Justice Director, Kim Gaddy, was invited to join Vice President Kamala Harris in Newark to highlight the City as a model for replacing lead service lines across the country! It was incredible honor that we were invited to attend, alongside our allies, Senator Cory Booker, EPA Region 2 Administrator Lisa Gracia (pictured at left). The event spotlighted the city’s accomplishment on its replacement of 23,000 lead service lines. The Vice President told the crowd of invitation-only guests: “Here in Newark the work that has been done is a function of the collaboration between community leaders, elected leaders, and public health leaders.” Clean Water Action played a key role in the initial community outreach and door-to-door canvassing operations on replacing lead service lines. Read more about the vice president’s visit here.
Clean Water Testifies at NJDEP Carbon Emissions Hearing
As part of the Empower NJ coalition, Clean Water Action testified at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) public hearing on the Control and Prohibition of Carbon Dioxide Emissions Rule, calling for a stronger rule that removes exemptions for many types of facilities, adds language to protect environmental justice communities, and stops gas-fired power plants from continuing to operate and new ones from being built, among other suggested improvements. “Governor Murphy and the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) staff have known since at least November 2018 that the make or break deadline for securing a livable climate future is 2030. Unfortunately, these proposed CO2 rules are a big swing and a miss at making New Jersey a national leader in combating climate change,” said Eric Benson, NJ Campaigns Director, Clean Water Action. “Fair or not, science is moving the goalpost, and in the interest of life, property, and justice, it is imperative that the NJDEP urgently adopt policies that prohibit new fossil fuel sources from coming online, while also more aggressively phasing out current climate polluters.”
The Future is Zero Emission Cargo Handling Equipment
As part of the Coalition for Healthy Ports, Clean Water Action is calling on NJDEP for much stronger rules to reduce diesel and climate emissions from cargo handling equipment (CHE) - freight equipment like forklifts and yard hostlers used at ports, railyards, and warehouses.
Clean Water Action testified at NJDEP’s virtual public hearing on February 9, urging the agency to get rid of loopholes in the rules that allow continued use of dirty diesel vehicles and equipment on and off port. These CHE rules are part of a larger series of laws, rules and moral imperative to mitigate climate change and reduce a wide range of harms disproportionately felt by port-adjacent and primarily low income BIPOC communities. In moving New Jersey towards electrification of transportation, goods movement, buildings, etc. it must not be done on the backs of these same impacted communities by continuing to operate and/or construct more fossil fuel power plants to power the grid. If we are to reach our goals with equity and justice in mind, then the grid must be powered by 100% renewable energy and in ways that prioritizes relief for already overburdened communities first. Read more here.
Welcome, Terrance!
Meet Terrance Bankston, our new Environmental Justice Organizer in New Jersey. Terrance Bankston has a long history of environmental activism and electoral work. He is currently a candidate for City Council in Newark’s South Ward, where he was born and raised. He has worked with Clean Water Action on short-term special projects since 2005. He has extensive experience in workforce development, constituent and student outreach, marketing and social media. He graduated from Bloomfield College with a BA in Public Policy and earned his Master’s Degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Administrative Science. He has brought leadership, passion and energy to every issue he has taken on. We are thrilled to have Terrance join the Clean Water Action team!
IN THE NEWS
- Kamala Harris points to Newark as model for lead replacement during NJ visit
- Plan to cut emissions falls far short, activists say
- As States Move to Electrify Their Fleets, Activists Demand Greater Environmental Justice Focus
- Critics claim NJ Transit still ‘tilted’ toward fossil fuels
CLEAN WATER NEWS, BLOGS & ACTIONS
- NJDEP Proposed CO2 Rule Falls Short in Dealing With Climate Emergency
- Clean Water Action Joins Vice President Kamala Harris and EPA Administrator Michael Regan in Newark: Investing In Infrastructure Will Create Justice, Equity, and Safe Drinking Water for All
- Tell REI: Phase Out PFAS!
- Tell Your Representatives: Support the Environmental Justice For All Act
- A Lot Happens in 50 Years
