The New York Giants’ offense may have been grounded during a 24-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on “Monday Night Football,” as they managed just 203 passing yards (and two interceptions).
But the event didn’t go past without opponents of Gov. Phil Murphy’s energy policy getting their say through the air.
Paid for by the New Jersey State Association of Pipe Trades, Fuel Merchants Association of New Jersey and New Jersey Propane Gas Association, a small plane with a banner offered the following assessment to tailgaters.
It read: “Gov Murphy is trying to change the way people cook their food, heat their homes and drive their cars. New Jerseyans deserve to know about it, so we’re taking our message to the skies, to let the governor know it’s not going to fly.”
What it is, still isn’t clear.
One of the arguments by the groups is that the governor’s Energy Master Plan isn’t specific enough.
Two of the bigger questions:
- Will residents not be allowed to buy gas appliances in the future?
- Will residents be forced to buy electric vehicles in the future?
Eric DeGesero, the head of the Fuel Merchants and the Propane Gas associations, said only allowing the state to sell EVs as new cars (not used cars) by 2035 doesn’t add up.
“The governor’s mandate on EVs will result in New Jerseyans paying more for their vehicles and fewer residents being able to afford a car at all,” he has said previously. “Furthermore, there is no way our fragile energy grid is capable of handling the surge of electricity demand.
“As a result, the California Clean Car mandate will ensure California-style rolling brownouts throughout the state.”
Kate Klinger, the director of the Governor’s Office of Climate Action and the Green Economy, has said such an interpretation is an oversimplification of the issue.
In an interview with ROI-NJ this summer, Klinger said the governor’s goals on EVs are not as broad-based as opponents are making it seem. The reason: Most cars that are purchased are previously owned vehicles, so the regulation does not apply to those sales.
“There’s a lot of misinformation about what this order does,” she said. “It requires that new vehicle sales in the state are zero-emission by 2035. More than 50% of vehicles that are sold in the state are used. And there is absolutely no change to the used vehicle market.”
As for appliances? Whether the Giants (or the New York Jets) will ever get cooking on offense may have been a more pertinent question this weekend.