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“The Sopranos,” a popular TV show about New Jersey, opens with its main character driving past oil and gas storage tanks along the New Jersey Turnpike. This is not a coincidence, as New Jersey is home to numerous oil and natural gas facilities, from the outskirts of New York to the Delaware River shoreline across from Philadelphia.
A new bill being considered in the state Legislature aims to create a Climate Superfund by charging petroleum and chemical companies an extra tax to fund ongoing cleanups and fight the effects of climate change. This tactic has been used or considered in other states, such as Vermont, New York, Maryland, Massachusetts, and California.
According to Matt Smith, New Jersey director of the nonprofit Food & Water Watch, it is crucial for Governor Murphy and state legislators to make polluters pay for the damage caused by climate change and protect taxpayers and communities. However, the state’s business lobby is already working against the bill, with an official from the New Jersey Business and Industry Association stating that it will only raise the cost of gasoline and home heating for consumers.
The bill has been criticized for being vague and potentially unconstitutional, but supporters argue that it will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote a shift towards renewable energy sources. If passed, New Jersey will join other states in taking action against climate change and holding polluters accountable for their actions.