Governor Phil Murphy and New York Governor Kathy Hochul were side by side in Manhattan on Wednesday to unveil new measures to fight climate change.
“We’re going big. My philosophy is: “Aim big or go home”. But I will never go home,” Hochul said.
All New York State operations will be powered by renewable energy in just eight years.
“I’m committing now,” she said.
New Jersey will increase its wind energy target by half.
“It’s an aggressive goal, but it’s an achievable goal,” Murphy said.
Governors gathered at the Javits Center to pledge that New York and New Jersey will work toward a green energy future.
“We are really the first generation that has felt the impact of climate change, and we are the last generation that can do anything about it,” Hochul said.
But while governors are in tune on climate change issues, they’re still at odds over the topic of congestion pricing — an issue that could hit drivers entering Manhattan with some up to $23 at from next year.
“This is clearly an environmental initiative, but it can’t be done on the backs of people who are already burdened with paying the fare to get to town,” Murphy said.
“We need to have a comprehensive and comprehensive approach to dealing with vehicle-generated pollution,” Hochul said.
Murphy suggests appealing to the federal government for an environmental impact statement. This could delay the program, which is due to start next year.
“We’re starting from a very, very constructive relationship and, God willing, we’ll find something,” Murphy said.
Hochul added that any pollution generated in New York or New Jersey will end up in the other state.
An executive order signed by Murphy on Wednesday increased New Jersey’s goal to 11,000 megawatts of wind power by 2040.