8/5/21 Biden To Sign Order Aiming For Half Of New Vehicles To Be Electric By 2030 President Joe Biden is expected to sign an executive order Thursday setting a national goal for electric and other zero-emissions vehicles to make up half of new cars and trucks sold by 2030, senior Biden administration officials said. . . In addition to setting the 50 percent-by-2030 goal, the executive order will also kick off the process to replace former President Donald Trump's more relaxed tailpipe and emissions standards with stricter ones, officials said. 8/4/21 Business Groups Opposed To Vaccine Passports - But Resistance Is Softening New Jersey's business leaders aren't prepared to embrace vaccine mandate and passport policies similar to those announced in New York City Tuesday. New York City is preparing to implement a broad mandate that will require customers and workers at indoor restaurants, gyms, and performance venues to show proof of receiving at least one vaccine dose starting Sept. 13. Michele Siekerka, president and CEO of the New Jersey Business and Industry Association, warns a similar decision on this side of the Hudson could exacerbate a worker shortage that she says has slowed New Jersey's economic recovery. "The result of that is you're putting frontline workers in a situation of having to be adverse to their customers when the customers get frustrated," Siekerka said. "And they're going to walk off their jobs." 8/4/21 Could N.J. follow NYC with COVID vaccines requirements for indoor activities like restaurants, gyms? Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday that people in the nation's largest city will have to show proof they are vaccinated against COVID-19 to participate in public indoor activities such as eating inside of restaurants, exercising at a gym, or attending a movie or play. The measure takes effect Aug. 16. The city is believed to be the first in America to issue such a mandate. So, will New Jersey, the city's next-door neighbor, follow suit? A spokeswoman for Gov. Phil Murphy's office, Alyana Alfaro, declined to comment Tuesday morning, other than to tell NJ Advance Media: "Nothing to share on this."
8/4/21
While They Were Asleep, Their Teslas Burned In The Garage. It's A Risk Many Automakers Are Taking Seriously The fire, which has not previously been reported, is one in a string of recent examples showing what can happen when electric cars are left parked in garages to charge overnight. The issue is causing mounting concern as a number of electric-vehicle makers have warned owners not to leave the cars charging unattended in certain circumstances, or sitting fully charged in garages. Automakers including General Motors, Audi and Hyundai have recalled electric vehicles over fire risks in recent years and have warned of the associated dangers.
8/4/21
NACS to CDC: Protect Retail Employees from Mask Confrontations Once again, retailers are facing confusing guidance on mask wearing and enforcement, as the delta variant of the coronavirus continues to infect Americans. This week, NACS joined nine other associations in a letter requesting clarification on the recently issued CDC mask guidance, as that the enforcement burden should not be placed on retail employees. The letter was sent to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration Acting Assistant Secretary James Frederick and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky.
8/3/21
What the Delta Variant Means for Retail A change in mask-wearing guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on July 27 has revived U.S. pandemic concerns due to the spread of the delta variant that seemed to be on the wane a few months ago. The CDC is now urging even vaccinated individuals to wear masks indoors in areas with high COVID-19 transmission rates. 8/2/21 Murphy: Private-sector companies can make vaccination requirement for employment Gov. Phil Murphy did not say Monday that the state would require workers to be vaccinated or face the loss of employment - but he did say private employers were OK to make that decision on their own. While announcing that workers at certain state and private health care facilities and high-risk congregate settings will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or be subject to COVID-19 testing at minimum one to two times per week, Murphy indicated companies are free to take the same steps.
7/30/21
Heads Of 15 Transportation, Shipping Groups Urge Murphy To Pause Adoption Of Advanced Clean Truck Rule The heads of 15 transportation and shipping groups sent a letter to Gov. Phil Murphy, urging that the state's Department of Environmental Protection pause its adoption of California's Advanced Clean Truck rule. The ACT aims to accelerate a large-scale transition of zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles from Class 2b to Class 8. The group said the potential changes to the ACT from the California Air Resource Board - which could be coming in 2022 - make it necessary for New Jersey to hold off until it can see the modifications. |
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