{"id":2395,"date":"2020-07-03T16:30:20","date_gmt":"2020-07-03T20:30:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sustainablelawrence.org\/home\/home\/"},"modified":"2026-10-22T13:10:45","modified_gmt":"2026-10-22T17:10:45","slug":"home","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sustainablelawrence.org\/home\/","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainablelawrence.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/RALPH-COPLEMEN-BIKE-RIDE_flyer-1-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"791\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/sustainablelawrence.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/RALPH-COPLEMEN-BIKE-RIDE_flyer-1-791x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9638\" style=\"aspect-ratio:0.7724580204202177;width:672px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sustainablelawrence.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/RALPH-COPLEMEN-BIKE-RIDE_flyer-1-791x1024.jpg 791w, https:\/\/sustainablelawrence.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/RALPH-COPLEMEN-BIKE-RIDE_flyer-1-232x300.jpg 232w, https:\/\/sustainablelawrence.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/RALPH-COPLEMEN-BIKE-RIDE_flyer-1-768x994.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sustainablelawrence.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/RALPH-COPLEMEN-BIKE-RIDE_flyer-1-1187x1536.jpg 1187w, https:\/\/sustainablelawrence.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/RALPH-COPLEMEN-BIKE-RIDE_flyer-1-1583x2048.jpg 1583w, https:\/\/sustainablelawrence.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/RALPH-COPLEMEN-BIKE-RIDE_flyer-1-scaled.jpg 1978w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 791px) 100vw, 791px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:13px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-black-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-1\" style=\"background:linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(216,236,184) 1%,rgb(113,206,126) 100%)\"><em>SUSTAINABLE BRIEFS<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns has-background is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"background:linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(240,241,239) 0%,rgb(113,206,126) 100%)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:150px\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainablelawrence.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/leaf-blower.webp\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"711\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/sustainablelawrence.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/leaf-blower.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9621\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sustainablelawrence.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/leaf-blower.webp 711w, https:\/\/sustainablelawrence.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/leaf-blower-300x225.webp 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 711px) 100vw, 711px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-2 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:17px\">New Jersey Senate Bill 623 (S623), sponsored by Senator Bob Smith and introduced January 13, 2026, proposes a statewide phase-out and ban on the sale and use of specific gas-powered leaf blowers while offering tax credits to help businesses transition to electric alternatives. As of mid-October, it\u2019s still under review by the NJ Senate Environment and Energy Committee. Track the latest status <a href=\"https:\/\/nj1015.com\/new-jersey-bans-trends\/\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-3 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:17px\">A &#8220;Polluters Pay&#8221; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.njspotlightnews.org\/2026\/06\/polluters-pay-bill-advances-would-create-50-billion-cleanup-fund\/\">bill<\/a> that would require fossil fuel companies to contribute towards environmental cleanups was passed with amendments at a hotly contested NJ Assembly Appropriations Committee hearing in June. It would require oil, coal and natural gas companies to pay towards a $50 billion fund to assist New Jersey\u2019s response to climate change impacts. This proposed act is currently stalled and was pulled from a floor vote, having failed to advance before the legislature broke for the summer. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:14px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover aligncenter is-light has-custom-content-position is-position-center-left has-white-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-4\" style=\"min-height:281px;aspect-ratio:unset;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-9443 size-large\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/sustainablelawrence.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Light-Bulbs-1024x576.jpg\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sustainablelawrence.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Light-Bulbs-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/sustainablelawrence.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Light-Bulbs-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sustainablelawrence.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Light-Bulbs-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sustainablelawrence.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Light-Bulbs.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-0 has-background-dim\" style=\"background-color:#616c6a\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<div style=\"height:139px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-5 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:30px\"><strong>ELECTRIC BILLS <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-6 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:30px\"><strong>ON THE RISE<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:21px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-7 wp-block-paragraph\">You may be feeling extreme price increases in your electric bill. Why have they risen so quickly in NJ? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-8 wp-block-paragraph\">To blame: the rapid rise of new A.I. data centers as well as problems directly related to PJM Interconnection, the nonprofit that manages the country\u2019s largest electricity grid region &#8212; which includes NJ. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:8px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-9 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>PSEG is providing assistance to residents to address these increasing costs<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-10 wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainablelawrence.org\/home\/programs\/electric-bills-rising-help-is-here\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"9440\">Electric Bills Rising? Help is Here!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-11 wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>PSEG&#8217;s main customer service line: Toll-free:&nbsp;1-855-846-2895&nbsp;(Monday \u2013 Friday, 8 a.m. \u2013 8 p.m.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:6px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:14px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainablelawrence.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Native-Plant-trifold-v.4-11.25-x-8.75-in-1-2.pdf\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"796\" src=\"https:\/\/sustainablelawrence.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Native-Plant-trifold-v.4-11.25-x-8.75-in-1-2-pdf-1024x796.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9390\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:36px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"background-image:radial-gradient(rgb(252,185,0) 0%,rgb(255,105,0) 100%);\" class=\"wp-block-group has-background\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sustainablelawrence.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/FLOWER-FOR-THE-MONTH-OF-OCTOBER-2023.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"791\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/sustainablelawrence.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/FLOWER-FOR-THE-MONTH-OF-OCTOBER-2023-791x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8977\" style=\"aspect-ratio:0.55859375;width:436px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sustainablelawrence.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/FLOWER-FOR-THE-MONTH-OF-OCTOBER-2023-791x1024.jpg 791w, https:\/\/sustainablelawrence.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/FLOWER-FOR-THE-MONTH-OF-OCTOBER-2023-232x300.jpg 232w, https:\/\/sustainablelawrence.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/FLOWER-FOR-THE-MONTH-OF-OCTOBER-2023-768x994.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sustainablelawrence.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/FLOWER-FOR-THE-MONTH-OF-OCTOBER-2023-1187x1536.jpg 1187w, https:\/\/sustainablelawrence.org\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/FLOWER-FOR-THE-MONTH-OF-OCTOBER-2023.jpg 1514w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 791px) 100vw, 791px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SUSTAINABLE BRIEFS New Jersey Senate Bill 623 (S623), sponsored by Senator Bob Smith and introduced January 13, 2026, proposes a statewide phase-out and ban on the sale and use of specific gas-powered leaf blowers while offering tax credits to help businesses transition to electric alternatives. As of mid-October, it\u2019s still under review by the NJ [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9400,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"fullwidth.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2395","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sustainablelawrence.org\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2395","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sustainablelawrence.org\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sustainablelawrence.org\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sustainablelawrence.org\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sustainablelawrence.org\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2395"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/sustainablelawrence.org\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2395\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9641,"href":"https:\/\/sustainablelawrence.org\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2395\/revisions\/9641"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sustainablelawrence.org\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9400"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sustainablelawrence.org\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2395"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}