Mike Ferguson on Protecting our Environment

Because New Jersey is the nation's most densely populated state, our residents know firsthand the importance of protecting the environment and of issues ranging from overdevelopment and open space to alternative modes of transportation and alternative sources of energy.

From fighting to ensure our drinking water is safe from arsenic and other harmful contaminants to prohibiting off-shore oil and gas drilling, Congressman Mike Ferguson is a strong champion of protecting the environment.  

He's voted to protect drinking water standards and the Endangered Species Act; urged tougher air pollution regulations for carbon dioxide emissions; voted to increase fuel efficiency standards for cars and trucks; voted to prohibit road construction in national parks and commercial logging on 58.5 million acres of National Forests; voted to prohibit snowmobile use in Yellowstone National Park; voted to protect the Tongass and Chugach National Forests in Alaska; voted to block logging on up to 20 million acres of federal land; and supported the America's Red Rock Wilderness Act, which would protect 9.1 million acres of Utah's publicly owned red rock canyon lands.

Congressman Ferguson has voted to block oil drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, on national monuments, off the coast of California, off the coast of Florida, and in the Great Lakes. He also supports legislation banning drilling off the New Jersey coast and to protect the Outer Continental Shelf from drilling.  

To protect the environment and promote conservation, Congressman Ferguson introduced legislation in 2005 to bolster development of clean, emissions-free electricity. The bill would extend a federal tax credit that makes it more affordable for homeowners and businesses to install solar panels to generate electricity. The "Clean and Green Solar Tax Credit Act" would extend through 2011 a 30 percent federal tax credit to offset the cost of purchasing and installing solar panels. Both homeowners and business owners could clam the tax credit, up to $2,000.

With the rising costs energy and the desire to strengthen the environment, many homeowners and business owners are turning to solar power. Solar power provides a clean, renewable source of energy that can be used as either a primary or backup supply of electricity for your home or business. The benefits of solar power are not only lower utility bills but also a healthier environment.

The Highlands is a 2 million-acre treasure that runs through four states - including 1,000 square miles of hills and forests in northwestern New Jersey. It includes some of the largest areas of open space in the Northeast and reservoirs and aquifers that provide drinking water to millions of people.

The Highlands also is threatened by development. That's why Congressman Ferguson voted for legislation in the House authorizing $100 million over 10 years for acquisition and preservation of land in the Highlands, which includes portions of Hunterdon and Somerset counties in the 7th District.