Jul 6, 2007 3:38 pm US/Eastern
Gore, N.J. Governor Sign Historic 'Green Law'
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (CBS) ―
On the eve of his massive concert event promoting environmental awareness, Al Gore teamed up with Gov. Jon S. Corzine on Friday to introduce a new law requiring New Jersey to achieve ambitious reductions in emissions of global-warming gases.
New Jersey will become the second state, behind only California, to pass a comprehensive greenhouse gas-reduction law.
Not far from Route 3, where cars filled the sky with auto emissions, Gov. Corzine signed a landmark bill to help clean the air.
"There's a danger for all humanity if we don't face this danger realistically and now," Corzine said.
That danger is global warming. On Friday, Giants Stadium became a front in the war on climate change.
Former Vice President Gore inspected the site of one of Saturday's Live Earth Concerts being staged around the globe.
He bestowed his blessing upon the new law.
"From now on when I give my slideshow around the world I'm gonna include New Jersey," Gore said.
Under the law, the state will have until 2020 to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent, and until 2050 to cut emissions by 80 percent. Power plants will have to become more efficient and cars will have to spew less carbon dioxide into the air.
"It is the strongest global warming cap in the country," said Suzanne Leta Liou of Environment New Jersey.
The bill has its critics. Some business groups complain that the state has yet to figure out how to achieve these goals. And they're warning that electricity prices will rise.
One way or another, New Jersey residents are likely to feel the difference.
"What I think most people will see first off is a push to make their homes and their appliances energy efficient," said Lisa Jackson, Commissioner of the New Jersey Dept. of Environmental Protection.
What environmentalists want more than anything is for the federal government to enact these laws. But with the debate over global warming still raging in Washington, states like New Jersey are going it alone.
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