N.Y. Gov. Kathy Hochul, N.J. Gov. Phil Murphy outline climate change initiatives
NEW YORK -- The governors of New York and New Jersey joined forces Wednesday to highlight their actions to tackle climate change.
Against the backdrop of Climate Week NYC, Kathy Hochul and Phil Murphy appeared united in their commitment to the fight, each listing ambitious goals to lower emissions in their respective states, CBS2's Christina Fan reported.
"There is an urgency that we must all feel in our hearts," Hochul said, adding, "We are truly the first generation that has felt the impact of climate change and we are the last generation to be able to do anything about it."
"We know climate change is not only real, but existential," Murphy said.
READ MORE: Climate Week NYC kicks off with a goal of creating actionable solutions to problems
Speaking at a joint press conference at the Javits Center, Murphy pledged to increase the Garden State's target for offshore wind electric generation by 50 percent.
"We are positioning New Jersey to be the focal point for offshore wind component manufacturing and logistics and marshaling, not just along the Eastern Seaboard, but nationally," Murphy said.
Hochul, meanwhile, announced the solicitation of large-scale renewable energy projects to power New York homes.
The collaboration, however, seems to end when it comes to congestion pricing.
"There is no resolution because we are very much interested in hearing from communities," Hochul said.
Hochul supports the MTA's plan to tax drivers entering Manhattan's Central Business District to alleviate traffic and pollution.
But Murphy has been one of its Gov. Phil Murphy says he will kill congestion pricing if plan continues to require double-taxing of New Jersey drivers, worried about the cost for New Jersey drivers.
"It clearly is an environmental initiative, but it can't be put on the back of folks who are already burdened with the price of coming into the city," Murphy said.
Murphy said he has appealed to the White House for a federal environmental study to be conducted, but MTA CEO Janno Lieber said he doesn't see that happening.
"The Biden administration gave us direction on what type of environmental process we had to follow. We have done that to a T," Lieber said.
The discussion remains heated among the residents of both states too. The MTA extended public comment on the topic to this Friday, Sept. 23.