Global warming is no longer a problem to be answered in the future-it must be addressed today. Science confirms that global warming is real, present and caused by human activity. The International Panel on Climate Change warns that, without intervention, temperatures may increase more than 10°F by the end of this century. As the world grows hotter, water resources will become scarcer and more seasonal. Increasingly frequent heat waves will be accompanied by intense storms, dangerous floods and severe drought.

We must act quickly to prevent these worst-case scenarios, and we should begin by rethinking our energy sources. Currently, we rely almost exclusively on fossil fuel and nuclear energy production methods, which accelerate climate change while contaminating our water resources with ionizing radiation, heavy metals and chemical pollution. In addition, these established energy production methods rely on a steady and reliable supply of water. In fact, the Department of Energy confirms energy production is the second highest water user in the country, exceeded only by agriculture. As global warming worsens and droughts becomes more common, our existing power plants may not be able to secure enough water to support energy production.

Solutions for a New Energy Economy

The IPCC warns that we must decrease our greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050 in order to avoid the worst effects of global warming. We can reach this goal by developing a new energy economy and the policies to support this move. We must:

• Dramatically reduce our current reliance on fossil fuel based energy sources.
  Make the switch renewable energy sources for electricity, such as wind and solar.
  Increase efficiency and use of alternative fuel sources in the transportation sector and increase use of public transportation.
  Institute immediate energy efficiency and conservation measures, which reap benefits quickly and economically.

Developing a New Energy Economy

As we develop a new energy economy, we will face challenging decisions about energy production and consumption. Our current fossil fuel driven energy industry contributes daily to accelerating global warming through the emissions of climate-altering gases. These same power plants taint our drinking water and damage essential habitats with heavy metals and chemical pollution. Finally, global warming has already begun to affect our water supplies, which will only become more limited. This means we must identify energy sources that are not dependent upon consistent, reliable water supplies. In fact, many of our current energy sources will no longer be available as water grows scarcer.

The Problems with Coal

Approximately half of U.S. electricity is generated by coal burning power plants. A typical 500 megawatt coal power plant uses more than 2 billion gallons of water each year. This water is used to wash coal, cool the power plant, drive power-generating turbines and clean emissions. In total, there are more than 500 coal-burning power plants located throughout the United States, which rely on more than 1 trillion gallons of water every year.

The Problems with Nuclear

Nuclear power plants, which supply approximately 20% of U.S. electricity, use billions of gallons of water every day to absorb excess heat, maintain safe operating temperatures and drive steam-powered turbines. As environmental water levels drop due to climate change, drought or increased competing demand, many nuclear reactors may not be able to harvest sufficient quantities of water. 24 of the United States' 104 active nuclear reactors are sited in regions experiencing severe drought. Already, the Tennessee Valley Authority was forced to temporarily shut down an Alabama-based nuclear plant due to water restrictions during summer 2007.

The Problems with Ethanol

One gallon of corn-based ethanol, which relies heavily on irrigation and chemical fertilizers, requires more than 1,000 gallons of water to produce and dramatically increases water pollution via runoff.

Global Warming and New Jersey

In April 2008, a broad coalition of environmentalists and clean energy advocates rated Governor Corzine's Energy Plan a "D" because it falls short on clean energy and advocates more power plants in New Jersey. View a pdf file of Corzine's Energy Master Plan Report Card, April 2008.

In 2007, Governor Corzine signed the historic Global Warming Response Act and committed the state to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 20% by 2020, and by at least 80% by 2050. The law is the toughest global warming law in the nation, and Corzine pledged to use his Energy Master Plan to detail strategies to meet the 2020 goals and set the state on track to meet the 2050 goals.

While the plan calls for renewable energy and greater energy efficiency, environmental leaders said the governor's goals fall far short of the state's potential. In addition, they said, the plan fails to detail the specific steps the state will take to achieve its goals.

The groups put out an alternate vision, calling upon the governor to increase his wind, solar, and efficiency goals, and to support emerging clean energy technologies.

With the right plan from the Governor, they argue, the state could:

• Promote highly efficient homes, buildings, and appliances and cut energy demand 10% below today's levels. The Governor's goal will stabilize demand at current levels.
• Generate 1750 megawatts of clean electricity by harnessing New Jersey's offshore winds - enough to power at least 450,000 New Jersey homes per year. Their plan would generate 75% more wind energy than the Governor's proposal.
• Bring solar panels to tens of thousands of rooftops within the decade.
• Eliminate the need to expand fossil fuel or nuclear power plants.

The coalition also criticized the plan for failing to assess the state's current fleet of power plants. The plan does not determine which current power plants the state should plan to keep online, which it should clean up, or which it should aim to phase out. It skips such an assessment, assumes none of the current capacity can be counted on in the future, and concludes that new power plants and additional transmission lines are needed.

"New Jersey is at a historic crossroads," said Dave Pringle of the New Jersey Environmental Federation. "Governor Corzine is missing the opportunity to truly go green, drive the 21st century economy, and rid ourselves of the 19th and 20th century technologies that saddle the state with so many environmental, public health and security problems. The question is not coal versus nuclear to keep the lights on, but rather those antiquated, dangerous technologies versus cutting edge clean renewable and efficient solutions."

The Governor's plan comes at a time when New Jerseyans are saddled with a host of energy-related issues. The cost of traditional fuels has risen sharply in recent years, with no end in sight. Consumers are paying record prices to fuel up their cars and to heat their homes. The cost of electricity has risen significantly as the cost of coal, gas, and uranium makes power plants increasingly expensive to operate. And global concerns of foreign imports, global security, and global warming, have left the public clamoring for energy alternatives.

NJEF canvassers, program staff and their children with Governor Corzine at the signing of the Global Warming Response Act.

Some of the law's measures include:

• A requirement that 20 percent of the state's energy come from renewable energy sources by the year 2020.
• Participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which establishes a regional cap and trade program for power producers, requiring them to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions 10 percent below 2009 levels by 2019.
• A Clean Cars Program, which mandates that an increasing number of cars sold in the state be low emissions and zero emission vehicles.
• Energy efficiency programs designed to make homes and businesses use less energy.
• A requirement that out of state power producers doing business in or through New Jersey meet the same standards as in-state producers.

Al Gore speaks at the signing of the Global Warming Response Act.

Governor Corzine after the signing of the bill.

Learn More About Global Warming