The New Jersey State Assembly Telecommunication and Utilities Committee held a hearing October 10 to explore opportunities to rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. In 2011, Governor Chris Christie (R) pulled the state out of the carbon-trading system; he has vetoed two bills on the state rejoining the program. Committee Chairman Upendra Chivukula (D) commented that the state is in a better position to rejoin because Hurricane Sandy showed the need to address climate change.