On Tuesday, November 14th, Jersey Renews partnered with Action Together New Jersey to host Clean Energy Future: A Forum on Opportunities for New Jersey. This panel was chosen to showcase a variety of perspectives on New Jersey’s opportunity to lead on climate.

Working Families executive director Analilia Mejia acted as the moderator for the four-person expert panel, which featured Rachel Shwom, associate director of the Rutgers Energy Institute who kicked off the event by breaking down 4 simple facts to understand climate change and dove into the research on public opinion around clean energy technologies. Richard Lawton, executive director of the New Jersey Sustainable Business Council, talked about leverage points in policy and business as a framework for encouraging sustainable business development and a shift from a solely financial bottom line to a triple bottom line of economic, environmental, and social interests. Bill O’Hearn, communications and outreach manager for the Business Network for Offshore Wind discussed the ways that the New Jersey coast is an ideal spot to invest in offshore wind turbines to power the mid-Atlantic and beyond. Capping off the panel, Elliott Ruga, policy director for the New Jersey Highlands Coalition, showcased what we’re protecting by redeveloping existing infrastructure and investing in clean energy with his award-winning filmography of the beautiful Highlands.

Clean Energy Forum Livestream

Clean Energy Future during #COP23, #StillIn

Clean Energy Future: A Forum on Opportunities for New Jersey.Thank you again to everyone who joined us, supported us, helped fund, helped advocate, participated, created material for, and in many other ways touched this event to make sure it was successful. Thank you to NJ Highlands Coalition, the Business Network for Offshore Wind, the NJ Sustainable Business Council, and Rutgers Energy Institute for sending speakers and taking the time to educate us all on the path forward. Special thanks to cohost Jersey Renews; cosponsors EDF Action, NJ March for Science, NJ Working Families Alliance; supporters EnvironmentNJ, BlueWaveNJ, Clean Water Action NJ and the Coalition for Climate Justice, nationally to CAP Action, OFA and the #StillIn coalition, and of course the talented team at ATNJ too. Let's do this again in South Jersey in the not-too-distant future!#COP23 #ATNJ #JerseyRenews #OFAction #IAmStillIn #StillIn

Posted by Action Together New Jersey on Wednesday, November 15, 2017