Energy & Environment
U.S. Circuit Court Revokes Permit for New Jersey Natural Gas Pipeline – On September 8th, the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals overseeing Pennsylvania, Delaware, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and New Jersey, revoked water quality permits for a 17-mile segment of a proposed natural gas pipeline in Middlesex County. The $1 billion project from the development company Williams would expand capacity to 400,000 dekatherms per day, enough natural gas to serve 2.3 million homes. Judge Jane Richards Roth wrote that the issuance of water quality permits in November 2025 by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection was “arbitrary and capricious.” The decision allows NJDEP to issue revised permits and resume the Northeast Supply Enhancement Project when officials can prove adequate habitat protection during construction. Environmentalists opposing the project cite prior rejected permit applications and climate laws mandating 100 percent of electricity be clean energy by 2040.
Bill Introduced to Appropriate $500 million to School Ventilation and Energy Efficiency – On September 10th, Assemblywoman Annette Quijano (D-20) introduced Bill A5370 to appropriate $500 million to establish a school ventilation and energy efficiency grant program. The legislation would direct the Department of Education and Schools Development Authority to disburse funds for energy efficiency, heating, and air conditioning repairs, upgrades, and installations. Grants would provide up to 75 percent of the costs of the project, prioritizing districts with at least 50 percent of students eligible for the free or reduced lunch program. The New Jersey Clean Energy Grant program provides resources to make homes, businesses, and schools more energy efficient, awarding $1.9 million to replace heating, cooling, and ventilation systems in the Florham Park School District in 2025. If passed, Bill A5370 would create a separate fund of $500 million to assist more schools in making similar improvements.
Economics
Bill Introduced to Expand Meat-Processing Training Programs – On September 10th, Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia (R-24) introduced Bill A5419 to establish a pilot program for training employees to work in the meat processing industry. The “Jersey Protein Pro” pilot program would appropriate $3 million to the NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development to distribute to county colleges, and county vocational school districts. Educational institutions could receive grants to develop curricula, purchase instructional equipment, and provide hands-on training in meat cutting, food safety, sanitation, and plant maintenance. Institutions could also use grant funding to provide tuition assistance to eligible students who agree to that remain and work in New Jersey for at least two years after completing their educational training. New Jersey has no USDA certified slaughterhouses that butcher individual cuts of livestock, forcing some farmers to travel to Pennsylvania to process meat.
Public Administration
AG Davenport, Multi-State Coalition Reach Multi-State AmeriCorps Funding Agreement – New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport, as part of a coalition of 23 attorneys general and two governors, reached a settlement with the Trump Administration in a lawsuit challenging cuts to AmeriCorps funding without warning. Under the agreement signed on September 11th, AmeriCorps is required to notify states of any significant cuts or changes to program services in writing at least 30 days prior to any action, ensures current NCCC and VISTA participants may complete their service terms uninterrupted by federal funding cuts, and stabilizes program funding through at least February 1st, 2027. In 2025, the Trump Administration terminated $400 million in funding for AmeriCorps and began mass layoffs while 85 percent of staff were placed on leave. New Jersey joined a multi-state lawsuit resulting in the restoration of congressionally appropriated Americorps funds.
NJBPU Approves Settlement with Optimum Communications – On September 9th, the NJ Board of Public Utilities approved a settlement with Optimum Communications over extra charges the company billed customers who cancelled cable television services. NJBPU alleged that Optimum Communications failed to prorate cable television bills for customers who cancelled service prior to the end of the billing cycle. Concluding 8 years of legal proceedings, Optimum agreed to pay out $37 in refunds to customers affected by overcharges between December 18th, 2018, and May 5th, 2023. Optimum will provide eligible customers 120 days to claim refunds, allocate $2.5 million to promote its $15/month low-cost broadband service for at least 4 years, and offer 6 months of free Optimum Advantage Internet to existing customers.