Why Next Week’s NJBIA Energy & Environmental Policy Forum is a ‘Can’t Miss’ Event – New Jersey Business & Industry Association

NJBIA Forum to Address Sustainable Development in Energy and Environmental Policy

The New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA) will convene its 5th Annual Energy & Environmental Policy Forum on October 28-29. The two-day conference will feature over 50 speakers and panelists to discuss critical policies shaping New Jersey’s progress toward key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in the areas of energy and environmental stewardship.

Core Objectives and Alignment with Global Goals

The forum’s agenda is structured to address the interconnected challenges of economic development and environmental sustainability. According to Ray Cantor, NJBIA Deputy Chief Government Affairs Officer, the growing relevance of these topics underscores their importance for the state’s future. The discussions will directly align with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Fostering Sustainable Energy Solutions (SDG 7 & SDG 13)

A primary focus of the forum is the transition to sustainable energy systems. Panel discussions will explore policy frameworks that support SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) by examining the affordability, reliability, and accessibility of energy sources. This includes dialogues on nuclear power, fusion energy, and renewable technologies, which are central to achieving SDG 13 (Climate Action) through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Promoting Sustainable Industry and Infrastructure (SDG 9 & SDG 12)

The event will address the need for resilient infrastructure and sustainable industrial practices, in line with SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). Experts will discuss the development of a circular economy, with specific sessions on plastics sustainability and advanced recycling. These topics are crucial for advancing SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by minimizing waste and promoting the sustainable management of natural resources.

Building Partnerships for Sustainable Progress (SDG 17)

By assembling a diverse group of subject matter experts from government, private industry, and academia, the forum exemplifies SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The collaboration among these stakeholders is essential for developing comprehensive and effective policies that balance environmental protection with economic vitality, contributing to the creation of SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Event Details and Participants

Logistical Information

1. Event Title: 5th Annual Energy & Environmental Policy Forum
2. Date: October 28-29
3. Location: DoubleTree by Hilton Somerset Hotel and Conference Center

Keynote Speakers and Dignitaries

The forum will feature prominent political and industry leaders, including:

• Jack Ciattarelli, Gubernatorial Candidate
• Senator Vin Gopal, representing Mikie Sherrill’s campaign
• Chris Christie, former Governor, who will deliver a keynote speech
• Tom Kean, former Governor

Comprehensive Speaker Roster

The forum will host a wide range of experts from various sectors to provide in-depth analysis on energy and environmental policy:

• 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
• Dr. 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 & 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 & CEO, NJBIA
• J. 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., Univ. 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

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • The article directly addresses this goal by focusing on an “Energy & Environmental Policy Forum.” It highlights that energy has become a “kitchen-table issue” concerning “affordability, reliability.” The list of speakers includes experts from various energy sectors, including traditional utilities (PSEG), nuclear (Holtec International), solar (Solar Landscape), and advanced fusion energy (Thea Energy, Commonwealth Fusion Systems), indicating a comprehensive discussion on ensuring access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy.
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
   • The forum’s discussion on energy policy inherently involves infrastructure. The mention of “reliability” points to the need for resilient energy infrastructure. Furthermore, the inclusion of speakers from innovative energy companies like “Thea Energy” (fusion energy) and “Commonwealth Fusion Systems” highlights a focus on fostering innovation and upgrading industrial and energy infrastructure for a sustainable future.
3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • The article connects high-level policy to local communities by mentioning speakers like the “Executive Director of the Woodbridge Township Redevelopment Agency and Director of the Division of Sustainability” and a representative from the “Regional Plan Association.” This shows that the forum’s discussions are relevant to creating sustainable policies that impact cities and communities directly.
4. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • This goal is addressed through the inclusion of speakers focused on sustainability in production and consumption patterns. For example, Anne Bedarf is the “Director, Global Packaging & Plastics Sustainability, Colgate-Palmolive,” Melanie Bower is the “Regulatory Development Manager – Circular Products, ExxonMobil,” and Valerie Montecalvo is the “CEO and Founder, Bayshore Recycling.” Their presence indicates a focus on recycling, reducing waste, and creating circular economies.
5. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The forum’s theme of “Energy & Environmental Policy” is intrinsically linked to climate action. The need to shape these policies implies integrating climate change measures into state-level strategies. The participation of Robert Kopp, “Co-Director, University Office of Climate Action, Rutgers University,” explicitly confirms that climate action is a key component of the discussions.
6. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The event described in the article is a clear example of SDG 17 in action. It is a multi-stakeholder partnership that brings together “more than 50 speakers and panelists” from the public sector (NJ Department of Environmental Protection, NJ Board of Public Utilities, former governors), the private sector (NJBIA, PSEG, Amazon Web Services), and academia (Rutgers University, University of North Carolina) to collaborate on sustainable development challenges.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 7.1: By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services.
   • The article explicitly states that energy “affordability, reliability” have become “kitchen-table issues,” directly aligning with the core components of this target. The forum aims to shape policies that address these specific concerns for the residents of New Jersey.
2. Target 7.a: By 2030, enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology…
   • The forum serves as a platform for facilitating access to research and technology by featuring speakers from cutting-edge fields, such as Brian Berzin, “Co-founder and CEO, Thea Energy,” and Lilly Blumenthal from “Commonwealth Fusion Systems,” both related to fusion energy. This promotes discussion on advanced and clean energy technologies.
3. Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.
   • This target is addressed by the presence of experts dedicated to waste management and circular economy principles. Speakers like Valerie Montecalvo, “CEO and Founder, Bayshore Recycling,” and Charlotte Dreizen, “Director of Sustainability & Environment, Plastics Industry Association,” are set to discuss topics directly related to recycling and reducing plastic waste.
4. Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.
   • The entire purpose of the “Energy & Environmental Policy Forum” is to discuss and shape state-level policies. The involvement of a Co-Director from the “University Office of Climate Action” ensures that climate change considerations are a part of this policy planning process, directly reflecting the goal of this target.
5. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships…
   • The forum itself is the embodiment of this target. It is a large-scale event organized by NJBIA (a business association) that convenes government officials, corporate leaders, policy experts, and academics to collaborate on energy and environmental policy, demonstrating a powerful public-private partnership.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Implied Indicator for Target 7.1: Proportion of population with access to reliable electricity and affordable energy.
   • While no specific numbers are given, the article’s emphasis on “affordability” and “reliability” as key discussion points implies that metrics such as energy costs for households and businesses, as well as the frequency and duration of power outages, are the underlying indicators for measuring success in this area.
2. Implied Indicator for Target 12.5: National recycling rate, tons of material recycled (adapted to state level).
   • The participation of the CEO of “Bayshore Recycling” and experts on “Circular Products” and “Plastics Sustainability” implies that a key measure of progress for the policies discussed would be an increase in New Jersey’s recycling rates and a reduction in waste sent to landfills.
3. Implied Indicator for Target 13.2: The establishment and implementation of integrated state-level policies/strategies for climate action.
   • The article describes a forum designed to “discuss critical issues shaping New Jersey’s energy and environmental policies.” The primary indicator of progress towards this target would be the successful development and enactment of the very policies being discussed at the event, which integrate climate change mitigation and adaptation.
4. Implied Indicator for Target 17.17: The number and diversity of stakeholders participating in policy-making forums.
   • The article provides a qualitative indicator by stating that “more than 50 speakers and panelists” from government, multiple industries (energy, plastics, finance, legal), and academia are participating. The continued growth of this annual event, as mentioned by Ray Cantor, also serves as an indicator of the strength and effectiveness of this partnership.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: njbia.org