NJBIA to host Energy & Environmental Policy Forum – ROI-NJ

Report on the New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA) Energy & Environmental Policy Forum

1.0 Introduction and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA) will convene its fifth annual Energy & Environmental Policy Forum on October 28 and 29. This two-day event serves as a critical platform for shaping New Jersey’s policies in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The forum will bring together over 50 experts to address the intersection of energy, environment, and economic stability, directly contributing to progress on several key SDGs.

• SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy): Central themes will include energy affordability, grid reliability, and the transition to cleaner energy sources.
• SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): The forum will explore innovations in energy, including fusion and renewables, and the development of sustainable infrastructure.
• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): Policy discussions will focus on creating resilient and sustainable communities across New Jersey.
• SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): Panelists will address topics such as circular economy models, sustainable packaging, and waste management.
• SDG 13 (Climate Action): The event is fundamentally aimed at developing policy solutions to address climate change and its impacts.
• SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): The forum exemplifies a multi-stakeholder partnership, uniting government, industry, and academia to achieve sustainability objectives.

2.0 Forum Objectives and Key Themes

The primary objective of the conference, held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Somerset Hotel and Conference Center, is to facilitate high-level dialogue on pressing energy and environmental challenges. Organizers note that these topics have evolved into significant public concerns impacting household affordability and state infrastructure reliability. The agenda is structured to cover a comprehensive range of issues critical to achieving a sustainable future for the state.

1. Advancing policy for clean and reliable energy infrastructure (SDG 7, SDG 9).
2. Promoting circular economy principles and sustainable industrial practices (SDG 12).
3. Developing strategies for climate resilience and environmental protection (SDG 13, SDG 11).
4. Fostering public-private partnerships to accelerate the green transition (SDG 17).

3.0 Distinguished Participants and Honorees

The forum will feature prominent political and industry leaders, underscoring its significance in the state’s policy landscape. Keynote addresses and participation will be provided by:

• Chris Christie: 55th Governor of New Jersey, serving as the keynote speaker and an event honoree.
• Tom Kean: Former Governor and an event honoree.
• Jack Ciattarelli: Gubernatorial candidate.
• Senator Vin Gopal: Representing gubernatorial candidate Mikie Sherrill.

4.0 Multi-Stakeholder Engagement: A Roster of Experts

Reflecting a commitment to SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), the forum’s speaker list comprises a diverse group of over 50 experts from government, private industry, academia, and legal sectors. This collaborative approach ensures a holistic examination of the challenges and opportunities in New Jersey’s energy and environmental future. The roster of confirmed speakers includes:

• Paul Baldauf, assistant commissioner for Air, Energy and Materials Sustainability, DEP
• Zoe Baldwin, vice president, State Programs & NJ Direction, Regional Plan Association
• Caryn Barnes, senior principal and vice president, Langan
• Brian Berzin, Co-founder and CEO, Thea Energy
• Anne Bedarf, director, Global Packaging & Plastics Sustainability, Colgate-Palmolive
• Tony Bianchini, principal consultant, Environmental Resources Management
• Matthew K. Blaine, Esq., shareholder, Davison Eastman Muñoz & Paone, P.A.
• Lilly Blumenthal, public policy specialist, Commonwealth Fusion Systems
• Melanie Bower, Ph.D., regulatory development manager – Circular Products, ExxonMobil
• Timothy C. Burdis, director of State Policy Solutions, PJM Interconnection
• Ray Cantor, deputy chief government affairs officer, NJBIA
• Marc Carver, partner, ERM
• Chris Christie, 55th governor of the State of New Jersey
• Zenon Christodoulou, commissioner, NJ Board of Public Utilities
• Jack Ciattarelli, candidate for governor of the State of New Jersey
• Pete Conway, managing director, Aon Power & Renewables
• Greg Costa, senior director, State Affairs, Consumer Brands Association
• Joseph A. De Flora, director of State & Local Outreach, American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers
• Robert DeNight, vice president, Nuclear Engineering, PSEG
• Charlotte Dreizen, director of Sustainability & Environment, Plastics Industry Association
• Caroline Ehrlich, chief-of-staff to Woodbridge Township, executive director of the Woodbridge Township Redevelopment Agency and director of the Division of Sustainability
• Ray Fakhoury, energy policy manager, Amazon Web Services
• Erick A. Ford, president, New Jersey Energy Policy Coalition
• Timothy Fox, managing director, ClearView Energy Partners, LLC
• Steven S. Goldenberg, Esq., shareholder, Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla, PC
• Senator Vin Gopal, campaign chair for Mikie Sherrill, Candidate for governor of the State of New Jersey
• Asim Z. Haque, senior vice president, Governmental and Member Services, PJM Interconnection
• David Haworth, partner, Ballard Spahr LLP
• Doug Heinrich, manager, Commercial Sales, WGL
• Alena Hyatt, associate, Parker McCay
• Daniel Kennedy, chief executive officer, NAIOP
• Robert Kopp, professor, Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences and co-director, University Office of Climate Action, Rutgers University
• Ralph A. LaRossa, chair, president and chief executive officer, PSEG
• Matt Leggett, partner, K&L Gates LLP
• Jason Lemme, managing director, Hartree Partners
• Brian O. Lipman, Esq., director, Division of Rate Counsel
• Bob Martin, managing director, Christie 55 Solutions LLC
• Valerie Montecalvo, CEO and founder, Bayshore Recycling
• Richard S. Mroz, Esq., senior director-Strategy & Regulatory Affairs, Archer Public Affairs
• Cynthia Niemeyer-Tieskoetter, policy advisor, Domestic Gas Markets, American Petroleum Institute (API)
• Patrick O’Brien, Director, government affairs and communications, Holtec International
• Mary Ellen Peppard, vice president, New Jersey Food Council
• Karen Pinder-McDuffie, supervisor, Public Sector, WGL
• Grace Strom Power, Esq., general counsel and EVP of Government Affairs, Solar Landscape
• Mike Renna, president and CEO, South Jersey Industries (SJI)
• Matthew Schwall, director of Regulatory Affairs, Alpha Generation, LLC
• Kenneth J. Sheehan, Esq., partner, Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis, LLP
• Michele N. Siekerka, Esq., president and CEO, NJBIA
• Scott Thomson, president, Holtec Government and Security International
• John G. Valeri Jr., Practice Group Leader, Environmental Law, CSG Law
• Michael Van Brunt, VP Environmental and Sustainability, Reworld
• Jessica Weinkle, associate professor, Public and International Affairs Dept., University of North Carolina Wilmington
• Neil Yoskin, Of counsel, Cullen and Dykman LLP
• Ted Zangari, member, Sills Cummis & Gross P.C.
• Senator Andrew Zwicker, head of Public Engagement & Workforce Development, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory

SDGs Addressed in the Article

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
4. SDG 13: Climate Action
5. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Specific SDG Targets Identified

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

• Target 7.1: By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services.
  • Explanation: The article directly states that energy has become a “kitchen-table issue, in terms of affordability, reliability.” The presence of the Director of the Division of Rate Counsel, Brian O. Lipman, further emphasizes the focus on energy affordability for consumers.
• Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
  • Explanation: The forum includes speakers from various clean energy sectors, such as Grace Strom Power from Solar Landscape, Robert DeNight from PSEG’s Nuclear Engineering, and representatives from fusion energy companies (Commonwealth Fusion Systems) and advanced nuclear firms (Holtec International). This indicates a discussion on increasing the share of clean and renewable energy sources in New Jersey’s policy.
• Target 7.a: By 2030, enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology…and promote investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology.
  • Explanation: The forum gathers experts and companies at the forefront of energy technology, including Thea Energy and Commonwealth Fusion Systems, to discuss policy. This gathering promotes investment and collaboration in advanced and clean energy technologies.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

• Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes.
  • Explanation: The participation of PJM Interconnection, which manages the electric grid, points to discussions about energy infrastructure. Furthermore, speakers from ExxonMobil discussing “Circular Products” and Holtec International focusing on nuclear technology highlight the theme of adopting cleaner and more sustainable industrial processes.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

• Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.
  • Explanation: This target is strongly represented by the list of speakers. Anne Bedarf, Director of Global Packaging & Plastics Sustainability at Colgate-Palmolive; Charlotte Dreizen, Director of Sustainability & Environment at the Plastics Industry Association; Valerie Montecalvo, CEO of Bayshore Recycling; and Michael Van Brunt, VP of Environmental and Sustainability at Reworld, all have roles directly related to recycling, waste reduction, and creating a circular economy.

SDG 13: Climate Action

• Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.
  • Explanation: The event is an “Energy & Environmental Policy Forum,” signifying a focus on integrating environmental concerns into state-level strategy. The inclusion of Robert Kopp, co-director of the Rutgers University Office of Climate Action, and Paul Baldauf, Assistant Commissioner for Air, Energy and Materials Sustainability at the DEP, confirms that climate action is a key component of the policy discussions.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships.
  • Explanation: The forum itself is a manifestation of this target. It is a multi-stakeholder partnership organized by the NJBIA (a business association) that brings together government officials (NJ Board of Public Utilities, DEP), private sector leaders (PSEG, Amazon Web Services, ExxonMobil), academia (Rutgers University), and industry groups (American Petroleum Institute, Plastics Industry Association) to collaborate on policy.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

SDG 7 Indicators

• Implied Indicator for Target 7.1: The discussion on “affordability” and “reliability” implies a focus on metrics related to energy costs for consumers and businesses, as well as the frequency and duration of power outages.
• Implied Indicator for Target 7.2: The presence of solar, nuclear, and fusion energy experts suggests that the forum will address New Jersey’s progress towards its renewable and clean energy portfolio standards, an indicator of the share of renewable energy in the state’s energy mix.

SDG 9 Indicators

• Implied Indicator for Target 9.4: The involvement of companies focused on “Circular Products” and advanced energy infrastructure implies discussions around investment in sustainable technologies and the rate of adoption of cleaner industrial processes within the state.

SDG 12 Indicators

• Implied Indicator for Target 12.5: The participation of experts in recycling, plastics sustainability, and circular products suggests that discussions will revolve around state-level metrics such as recycling rates, reduction in plastic waste, and the amount of material diverted from landfills.

SDG 13 Indicators

• Implied Indicator for Target 13.2: The forum’s focus on policy development serves as a qualitative indicator. The creation and implementation of state-level energy and environmental policies that explicitly address climate change would be the primary measure of progress.

SDG 17 Indicators

• Implied Indicator for Target 17.17: The number and diversity of high-level participants from different sectors (public, private, academic) at the forum is a direct, qualitative indicator of the formation of multi-stakeholder partnerships to address sustainable development challenges in New Jersey.

Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: roi-nj.com