Conveying this Proposal — June 12, 2018
The Honorable Phil Murphy
Governor, The State of New Jersey
PO Box 001
Trenton, NJ 08625
Ms. Tammy Murphy
The First Lady
PO Box 001
Trenton, NJ 08625
Ms. Sheila Oliver
Lieutenant Governor, The State of New Jersey
PO Box 001
Trenton, NJ 08625
Ms. Catherine R. McCabe
Acting Commissioner
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
401 E. State St.
7thFloor, East Wing
P.O. Box 402
Trenton, N.J. 08625-0402
Mr. Tim Sullivan
Chief Executive Officer
New Jersey Economic Development Authority
PO Box 990
36 West State Street, Trenton, NJ 08625
Trenton, NJ 08625-0990
Mr. Joseph L. Fiordaliso
President, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
44 S. Clinton Avenue
Trenton, NJ 08625
Mr. Douglas Fisher
Secretary, New Jersey Department of Agriculture
P.O. Box 330
369 S. Warren St.
Trenton, N.J. 08625
Mr. Upendra J. Chivukula
Commissioner, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
44 S. Clinton Avenue
Trenton, NJ 08625
Ms. Debbie Mans
Deputy Commissioner
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
401 E. State St.
7thFloor, East Wing
P.O. Box 402
Trenton, N.J. 08625-0402
Dear Governor Murphy, First Lady, Lieutenant Governor Oliver, Cabinet, & Sub-Cabinet Officials:
I’m an Adjunct Professor at Ramapo College of New Jersey teaching a course this spring called Ecology, Economics, & Ethics in the School of Social Science & Human Services. The course is really about Sustainability Economics, a good part of which analyzes green economy concepts.
Anticipating Governor Murphy’s tenure when planning this course, I included a final group course requirement for a “Paper on a Green Economy for New Jersey for the New Governor.” We just finished it and I offer it to you here for your consideration.
I note the First Lady, Tammy Murphy, was recently quoted saying, “We must reject the false rhetoric that we can either have clean water and air OR jobs. We can and will grow our economy while protecting our environment!”
However, there are many ways, even beyond the conventional green jobs, renewable energy expansion, and RGGI re-entry initiatives you have mentioned or announced that are still untapped by which to do so.
The concepts chosen and the conclusions and recommendations made in this Paper are the students’ choice, although as the instructor I provided guidance, background, and some sources. I think you will find that to a large degree, these are consistent with some of your early policy choices and direction. It does take things further, building on them in several ways, some of which are not that well known. However, as it comes out of a sustainability course, which recognizes and at times struggles with some difficult and long term societal issues, it cannot avoid also suggesting some ways to approach those as well. It is not, though, a Paper about New Jersey and sustainability, which could get into many other things. Still, sustainability and some of its deeper issues and implications are never far from the surface.
You will also see the students’ work covers several important bases; may ease some of the perpetually wrenching “economics versus environmental” dilemmas with which Governors are often faced, by opening up some new possibilities and options (which is not to say all green economy issues are easy); and may surprise you at times.
If you or a member of the Cabinet wishes to contact them for a follow-up, that could be arranged.
Finally, as personally I’ve been on this topic for 40 years and written over a dozen articles, reports, and other documents on it, I will bow out now. However, as a small class cannot cover every green economy concept and idea, I have left extensive final thoughts, including how you could take this much further if you wish, as a Postscript in the second Appendix. The Paper before that, nearly in its entirety, is their work. However, even together, these certainly do not cover every green economy topic. But those mentioned would provide a good baseline upon which to build for any follow-up efforts by State Government to study, further develop, and implement an ever-increasing and possibly even full-blown green economy.
I hope you and your Cabinet find my class’ Paper useful, perhaps even as soon as a resource for, or even topic of, the First Lady’s June 21stkeynote speech at the Sustainability Summit at TCNJ.
I wish great success for your tenure as Governor of New Jersey.
Regards,
Professor Matt Polsky
191 Summerfield Rd.
Belvidere, N.J. 07823
Innovator3@hotmail.com
908 451-2833
A Proposal to Governor Phil Murphy and the People of New Jersey
From the 2018 Ecology, Economics & Ethics Class at Ramapo College:
Stephanie O’Brien
Caitlyn Montgomery
Christopher Eveigan
Kieran Passmore
Willem Glans
William Plungis
and Professor Matt Polsky.
Sign up to get a downloadable copy of the paper:
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