Clean Water Action invites you to attend the premier of the environmental documentary Shored Up. Set partly in New Jersey in wake of Hurricane Sandy, this documentary is an urgent call to action in the face of rising sea levels.

Get your tickets today (enter promo code MFF2013su)! The film will premier Sunday, May 5, at 3:00PM, at Montclair Kimberely Academy in Montclair.

FIRST PLACE WINNER

SECOND PLACE WINNER

THIRD PLACE WINNER

Congratulations to EarthShare NJ’s ”Beauty and Bounty of NJ” photo competition winners!

A hummingbird captured in mid-flight, an environmental organization and a pest control company became an unlikely grouping as the best of the “Beauty and Bounty of NJ” photo competition winners were awarded at EarthShare Celebrates NJ on the evening of April 12th.

Each of the 143 photographs submitted by 74 photographers were taken throughout New Jersey. The result is a montage of what makes New Jersey truly the Garden State.  The contest was made possible by a generous sponsorship from Cooper Pest Solutions of Lawrenceville, NJ.

“Typically you do not see a company involved with pesticides working hand in hand with the environmental community, but Cooper is no ordinary pest control company,” said Paula Aldarelli, Executive Director, EarthShare NJ.  “Cooper has been working with the New Jersey Environmental Federation for years and they are an amazing supporter of our efforts”

Phillip Cooper, CEO of Cooper Pest Solutions, felt the contest was a perfect fit for his company. “The photo submitted by winning photographer Kevin Wuchter is a shining example of the beauty of our state. When we were approached by EarthShare NJ to sponsor the contest, we felt it was a natural for us. We have been ardent supporters of the environmental community for years and we always look for alternatives that promote a healthy environment. Insuring sustainability is a prime directive of our organization.”

30 photos made it to the finals and an exciting 800 votes were cast.  The stunning photos were wonderful representations of the beauty and talent NJ has to offer nature lovers. The winning photograph was “Ruby Throated Hummingbird” submitted by Kevin Wuchter of Howell Township. First runner-up was “Three Tenors”, which featured a trio of songbirds submitted by Dick White of Galloway Township.  Third place winner “Osprey Stare Down” was submitted by Ben Wurst of Tuckerton.

EarthShare NJ is thrilled to also announce that Cooper has renewed its support of the contest. With expanded efforts planned for 2014, Cooper wants to help ensure that 8 million New Jersey residents get a chance to see their state in all of its natural glory.

Special thanks to Eileen Kennedy of The American Littoral Society, EarthShare NJ Member Organization, for organizing the “Beauty and Bounty of NJ” photo contest. 

About Cooper Pest Solutions
Cooper Pest Solutions is a progressive and full service pest management firm located in Lawrenceville, NJ. Since its founding in 1955 by Theodore H. Cooper, the company strives to develop or adopt the most advanced and effective pest treatment methodologies available. To this end, it applies a multidisciplinary approach to pest elimination that ensures the most reliable and effective results, while reducing pesticide usage and exposure. 

Join us Friday, April 12th from 7:00 – 10:00 p.m. at Laurita Winery in New Egypt, NJ for an evening celebrating the beauty and bounty of New Jersey through art, wine and food! Our seventh annual EarthShare Celebrates NJ event highlights the work of  EarthShare New Jersey’s member organizations. Guests are invited to enjoy the sounds of Stringzville and participate in our eco-friendly chance and silent auctions featuring exclusive environmental experiences, tickets to events and performances, and dozens of gift baskets of products/services from many favorite NJ’s businesses.

Tickets $50 at the door. Raffle Tickets $10.

During the exciting evening, Candace McKee Ashmun will be honored with EarthShare NJ’s 2013 Environmental Stewardship Award, while the Environmental Leadership Award will be presented to the New-Jersey based corporation Phillips-Van Heusen. Their leadership and commitment to a better environment for the communities they live and work in makes a difference for today and tomorrow. Find out more here.

2012 First Prize Winner in EarthShare New Jersey’s Nature Photography Exhibition: Debra L. Partesi for Yellow-crowned Night Heron Dance. Debra photographed this gorgeous image in Warinanco Park, Roselle, NJ.

2013 Nature Photography Competition: EarthShare New Jersey invited nature photographers to share their vision of NJ’s diverse natural resources. Over 140 images were submitted and 27 of these were selected to participate in the online voting for a winner. The winner will be announced at EarthShare Celebrates NJ.

EarthShare New Jersey and our members are organizations that YOU can choose to support!  Your gift helps to protect open space, educate the public about important environmental issues, save wildlife and their habitat, ensure clean water, create safe biking/hiking areas and share healthier living habits with people of all ages.  You can designate a gift to any of our members, or EarthShare NJ where it will be shared amongst the members.

You can make a difference.  Please choose to help!

Tim McCloone’s on the boardwalk in Asbury Park, Sunday August 26th!

Surfrider 20th Anniversary Celebration Poster

Earthly Delights: Cultivating the Gardener is a horticultural event inviting visitors from all over the tri-state area to shop from distinguished vendors for rare and unusual plants, exceptional  garden antiques, distinctive art and fine tools and accessories , bid on the plant silent auction; and attend lectures and demonstrations from nationally known speakers. The focus is on education and the many ways to increase awareness of gardening and public gardens in New Jersey.

Preview Cocktail Party Friday - June 1, 6pm-8pm

General Admission – June 2, 9am-4pm & June 3, 9am-2pm

Rain or Shine  Get tickets here!

Held at the home and garden of Andrea Filippone, 129 Pickle Road, Pottersville, NJ 07979 *If using GPS enter the town as Califon, NJ Directions

This event’s second annual beneficiary is New Jersey’s Keep it Green Campaign. Their mission is to secure a long-term stable source of funding for the acquisition of open space, farmland and historic sites as well as the capital improvement, operation, maintenance, and stewardship of state and local natural areas, parks and historic sites in New Jersey. This work is guided by the belief that every New Jersey resident deserves well-maintained, accessible neighborhood parks, wildlife areas and historic sites. Please check out their website: njkeepitgreen.org.

Friends of Earthly Delights is an all-volunteer group of local designers, architects, horticulturists, garden writers, and gardeners that has formed an alliance with the Land Conservancy of New Jersey to help benefit New Jersey public parks and gardens.
Earthly Delights is currently seeking additional volunteers to help facilitate the event.  Click here to find out more about volunteering.

For $45 you’ll build your own rain barrel after learning why they are important and how to prepare and install your own.  You literally go home with the barrel you built.

June 7th, 7:30 PM at the Carmen A. Biase Center, 719 Main Street Bradley Beach 07720.  Space is limited and registration is required.  Here is the link http://www.water.rutgers.edu/Stormwater_Management/rainbarrels.html#home

Full Flyer here.  Sponsored by the Surfrider Foundation and the Bradley Beach Environmental Commission.

Trenton, NJ (April 23, 2012) – Sustainable Jersey announced today $200,000 in grant money for municipal sustainability projects, offering good news for leaders of cash-strapped towns across New Jersey. Funded by the PSEG Foundation, the Sustainable Jersey Small Grants Program will support thirty-two projects that leverage resources to make communities more livable, environmentally friendly and prosperous.

“PSEG is committed to being a steward of the environment and making meaningful contributions to the communities it serves,” said Anne Hoskins, senior vice president of public affairs and sustainability for PSEG, one of New Jersey’s oldest companies and largest employers. “We are proud to support this program and to fund projects that will make life better in neighborhoods all over New Jersey.”  

Sustainable Jersey is a nonprofit that provides tools, training and financial incentives for communities that pursue sustainability programs.  The 2012 Sustainable Jersey Small Grants Program will award local governments with four $20,000 grants, eight $10,000 grants and twenty $2,000 grants for projects like electric vehicle charging stations, school food composting centers and community gardens.

To apply, a municipality must submit a proposal describing its local sustainability initiative, detailing the commitment of the municipality to sustainability and collaboration with nearby municipalities to leverage resources. Proposals will be reviewed and scored by a selection committee composed of sustainability experts and public figures.

“We greatly appreciate PSEG’s vision in funding the grants. The impact that these projects will make in New Jersey is incredible,” said Pam Mount, Chair of the Sustainable Jersey Board of Trustees. “Funding green initiatives at the community level will have a ripple effect that will benefit us all.”

New Jersey is the first state in the nation to have a comprehensive sustainability program for communities that links certification with strong state and private financial incentives, and a fully resourced program of technical support and training.  Sustainable Jersey has streamlined, incentivized and guided the process.

A core element of the Sustainable Jersey program is to direct funding and resources to municipalities to aid them in making progress. Currently, 64 percent of New Jersey’s towns and cities (361 towns across all 21 counties) have registered to become Sustainable Jersey certified.

To date, $595,000 has been awarded through the Sustainable Jersey’s Small Grants program.  Eighty grants for sustainability projects have been given to New Jersey municipalities representing 20 counties.

Towns and communities interested in applying for a grant can visit the Sustainable Jersey Web site (www.SustainableJersey.com) to read the grant requirements and download the application. Proposals are due to Sustainable Jersey on July 15, 2012.

About Sustainable Jersey

Sustainable Jersey is a certification program for municipalities in New Jersey.  Launched in 2009, Sustainable Jersey is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that supports community efforts to reduce waste, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and improve environmental equity. Sustainable Jersey is empowering New Jersey towns to build a better world for future generations.  It provides tools, training and financial incentives to support and reward communities as they pursue sustainability programs.  New Jersey is the first state in the nation to have a comprehensive sustainability program for communities that links certification with strong state and private financial incentives, and a fully resourced program of technical support and training.  Sustainable Jersey is 100 percent voluntary and each town can choose whether it wants to get certified and the actions it wants to do in order to achieve enough points to get certified.

Sustainable Jersey’s partners include the New Jersey State League of Municipalities, the Institute for Sustainability Planning at The College of New Jersey, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.  Program sponsors include the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, BPU, PSEG, New Jersey Natural Gas, Church and Dwight, Covanta Energy, EcoMatters, New Jersey American Water, Real Goods Solar, South Jersey Gas, Terhune Orchards, Waste Management of New Jersey, Atlantic City Electric, Citizens Campaign, Concord Engineering and the New Jersey Food Council.

Website:            www.SustainableJersey.com
Facebook:             http://www.facebook.com/SustainableJersey
Twitter:             www.twitter.com/SJ_Program

(April 19, 2012, Newark, NJ) – Public Service Electric & Gas (PSE&G) had the second most solar capacity of any American utility added to its electric system last year, according to Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA). The designation came from SEPA’s 2011 Utility Solar Rankings report released this week, which included more than 240 utilities.  In addition, PSE&G ranked ninth in the amount of solar capacity installed last year per customer.

During 2011, 181 solar megawatts were added in PSE&G’s service territory, a 142 percent increase from 2010.  That total includes customer systems and solar projects that PSE&G developed. PSE&G’s Solar 4 All™ and Solar Loan programs either installed or helped finance more than 20 percent of the 181-megawatt total. PSE&G has placed in the top five in SEPA’s annual survey for four consecutive years.

Joe Forline, PSE&G’s vice president of customer operations, said that utilities can efficiently develop solar while spreading the benefits throughout society.

“We are proud to be on a list with so many good companies,” he said. “Utilities have been vehicles for deploying lower-cost capital to achieve important societal goals, such as universal access to electricity. We see our investments in solar as a modern outgrowth of our traditional mission, and very much in keeping with it.

“In addition to the environmental benefits, our programs have provided tangible economic benefits. They have created the equivalent of more than 1,300 new jobs and our Solar 4 All program has provided 11 New Jersey-based companies with $250 million of work.”

The findings of SEPA’s annual Utility Solar Rankings survey identify the most active utilities in the country based on the amount of new solar power they added to their systems, and on the amount of new solar power relative to the number of customers they serve.

“We congratulate PSE&G for being a solar power leader in the electric utility sector,” said Julia Hamm, president and CEO of SEPA. “PSE&G successfully adapted its business models and operations to allow for a significant amount of solar energy to be integrated into the grid last year, delivering the many benefits of clean solar energy to its customers. The impressive gains that solar energy made in the U.S. in 2011 can be largely attributed to PSE&G’s leadership.”

Overall, in 2011, American utilities interconnected more than 62,000 PV systems of all sizes, according to new findings by SEPA. These new systems resulted in nearly 1,500 megawatts of new utility solar capacity, more than twice as much as was added in 2010, which itself had been a record year. Both the number of systems and the percentage of growth make solar electricity the fastest growing electric source in the U.S. in 2011.

Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) is New Jersey’s oldest and largest regulated gas and electric delivery utility, serving nearly three-quarters of the state’s population.  PSE&G is the winner of the ReliabilityOne Award for superior electric system reliability.  PSE&G is a subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (PSEG) (NYSE:PEG), a diversified energy company (www.pseg.com).