NJ Environmentalists Push For New Agenda With Sherrill In Governor's Office

Fighting for clean energy and clean water. Empowering voters. Preserving an iconic public park. Forcing large consumers of electricity to “pay their fair share.” These are some of the demands that a New Jersey environmental advocacy group is making to lawmakers – as well as the state’s new governor, Mikie Sherrill.

The New Jersey League of Conservation Voters (LCV) recently released its “Common Agenda for the Environment” for the 2026-2027 legislative session.

According to its website, the New Jersey LCV works to elect “environmentally responsible” candidates to state and local offices. The group’s 2025 endorsements skewed Democratic, and included Gov. Sherrill. Related: 'Scorecard' Grades NJ Lawmakers On Environmental Issues

The nonprofit’s latest policy roadmap includes four main suggestions:

John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act (S282/A1715)– “A strong, inclusive democracy undergirded by robust voting protections is the foundation of all environmental progress. The New Jersey LCV is calling for the swift passage of the Voter Empowerment Act of New Jersey to ensure that the communities most impacted by pollution and climate change have an equal say in our collective future. This landmark legislation will ensure that all New Jerseyans can make their voices heard at the ballot box in the face of a series of unprecedented attacks on voting rights.”

Liberty State Park Protection Act (S2924) – “To ensure New Jersey’s premier urban state park remains a public resource for generations, the Legislature must pass the Liberty State Park Protection Act to permanently protect the crown jewel of our urban state parks from large-scale commercialization or privatization. The bill would ensure that residents of New Jersey’s most densely populated county have access to critically needed open space, put an end to years of effort by wealthy special interests to privatize the park for profit, and safeguard critical ecological resources in the interior of the park.”

Clean Energy – “New Jersey is in a crisis – not only from the worst effects of climate change, but a real need to meet growing electricity demand while protecting New Jersey’s working families. Expanding truly clean energy sources like solar and battery storage are the fastest, most affordable way to deliver energy and climate relief – all while creating good-paying union jobs, strengthening our economy, and lowering our dependence on toxic fossil fuels. At the same time, the explosive growth of energy-intensive artificial intelligence data centers is putting enormous strain on the electric grid and driving up costs for everyday ratepayers. Even as we modernize our grid, we must hold data centers accountable to pay their fair share and bring their own clean energy, not put their profits on the backs of New Jersey ratepayers, including the data center tariff bill to make large load users pay their fair share.”

Clean Water – “Federal clean water protections are being weakened or rolled back, and New Jersey must act decisively to safeguard our waterways, drinking water supplies, and the health of our communities. Legislation to safeguard New Jersey’s waters will establish strong, enforceable protections to prevent pollution and safeguard public health and natural resources.”

FEDERAL DEREGULATION

The Trump administration has been a strong supporter of environmental deregulation on the federal level, arguing that too much red tape discourages innovation, investment and economic growth. Trump has also claimed that too much regulation contributes to higher costs of living.

Among other suggestions, Trump has recommended rescinding the Environmental Protection Agency’s “Good Neighbor Plan” ozone air quality rule and multi-pollutant emission rule for light-duty and medium-duty vehicles, rolling back Department of Energy rules on appliance conservation standards, and eliminating of the Department of Transportation’s current Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards.

Meanwhile, the president has positioned himself as a “champion of coal,” which he claims supports workers with high-paying jobs in rural communities, creates “affordable and dependable” energy, and promotes “American energy dominance.”

Last week, Trump announced what the White House described as the “single largest deregulatory action in American history”: the full revocation of the Obama-era “Endangerment Finding” on greenhouse gases.

The Trump administration’s deregulatory moves have sparked vocal criticism from groups like the New Jersey LCV, which claims that an “unprecedented federal assault” is taking place on the environment and clean energy – largely to benefit billionaire donors.

Now – more than ever – New Jerseyans are looking to leadership from the state Legislature, the group said.

“By protecting our public lands from private interests, expanding clean energy and addressing inequities – and ensuring every voice is heard at the ballot box – we are standing up for the families who deserve a healthy community and lower utility bills,” interim executive director Allison McLeod said.

Last week, the New Jersey LCV gathered with other activists and several state lawmakers to push for their environmental agenda at a press conference (watch video footage here).

With a new face in the governor’s office, it’s a good time to push for change, advocates said.

“The first 100 days of an administration sends a clear signal to New Jersey voters,” the LCV charged. “We are prepared to push for policies that are going to protect our environment, strengthen our democracy, and help us reach a clean energy future.”

The New Jersey LCV’s latest environmental agenda has seen support from several Democratic state lawmakers, including:

Senator John McKeon – “At a time when New Jersey is seeing unprecedented demand on our grid, driven by the rapid development of AI data centers, we must ensure that our energy policies are able to reliably and efficiently adapt to these needs while lowering costs for our residents. We cannot allow outdated systems to slow our clean energy transition or continually shift the cost burden onto ratepayers.”

Senator Linda Greenstein – “As federal clean water protections are rolled back by the current administration, New Jersey must lead the way to protect residents from contaminants like lead or PFAS in our waterways. The New Jersey LCV has been a critical partner in sounding the alarm and coming up with innovative solutions to keep our natural resources in pristine condition. I look forward to working with them, along with my colleagues on the Senate Environment and Energy Committee, to make these ideas a reality.”

Assemblywoman Alixon Collazos-Gill – “New Jersey families deserve clean, reliable, and affordable energy, not rising bills driven by corporate greed and outdated systems. As we expand renewable energy, we must also advance legislation that reinforces accountability, ensuring that large corporations and major energy users help pay for the climate and energy impacts they create. A fair clean energy transition puts people first, protects environmental justice communities, and makes sure working families aren’t left footing the bill.”

Assemblyman Ravi Bhalla – “As someone who believes deeply in justice, equity, and the power of community, I know that protecting our environment and strengthening our democracy go hand in hand. The New Jersey LCV Common Agenda reflects the bold leadership this moment demands — safeguarding our air and water, accelerating the transition to affordable clean energy, preserving the public spaces that belong to all of us, such as Liberty State Park, and ensuring every resident has a meaningful voice in our democracy.”

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