Heat and Eat Bill Must Be Part of Discussion of Clean Energy/Nuclear Future

Trenton, NJ – Today, Clean Water Action joined Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin at a press conference where he announced that the Assembly will be advancing legislation to increase heat-and-eat assistance payments as part of his effort to help New Jersey families facing hunger and other struggles.

Coughlin (D-Middlesex) said the legislation must be part of the discussion as lawmakers consider the future of New Jersey’s clean energy and nuclear programs.

“We cannot discuss New Jersey’s clean energy future without considering the families who pay the bills,” Coughlin said. “Too many families are struggling to make ends meet. It’s important that we strengthen New Jersey’s clean energy programs, but it’s also important that we remember the families who struggle each day to make ends meet. We must provide all the help we can – and with this simple step we can help thousands upon thousands of our residents.”

“This is an anti-poverty measure to reinstate energy support-utility assistance for low income families and return aid to New Jersey’s most vulnerable,” said Amy Goldsmith, State Director of Clean Water Action. “Unfortunately, utility rate relief of this potentially worthy bill sponsored by the Assembly Speaker may be overshadowed by the nuclear subsidy being pushed by the Senate President in S877.”

The highly controversial nuclear subsidy bill, S877, sponsored by Senate President Stephen Sweeney (S-Gloucester) and Senator Robert Smith (D-Middlesex), would give up to $300 million in subsidies to PSE&G. Under this bill, PSEG could start receiving subsidies within a year, despite being profitable enough to have bid into auction. It also includes subsidies to fix up their plants. The bill goes minimally through 2030 but can be extended. The bill has been worked on behind-the-scenes with little opportunity for public examination and input.

Clean Water Action opposes S877 because the bill undermines renewable energy and hurts the communities and ratepayers of New Jersey. The bill is moving through the Legislature and is currently in Committee.

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Since our founding during the campaign to pass the landmark Clean Water Act in 1972, Clean Water Action has worked to win strong health and environmental protections by bringing issue expertise, solution-oriented thinking and people power to the table. We will protect clean water in the face of attacks from a polluter friendly Administration and Congress. Clean Water Action has 150,000 members in NJ and nearly 1 million nationwide. www.cleanwater.org/nj