Governor Corzine Signs Green Bills

Governor Corzine Signs "Green" Bills

By Thomas H. Prol

Declaring that a “cleaner New Jersey means a better New Jersey,” Governor Corzine signed a “green” package of three bills on March 31, 2009, that promote renewable and alternative energy throughout the state and provide for significant investment in energy infrastructure and efficiency. The legislation enacts incentives for investments in wind and solar energy and advances development and upgrade of the state’s energy infrastructure.

Wind and Solar Energy Generating Facilities

The first law, S1299/A2550 (Greenstein/Coleman/ Lampitt/DeAngelo), authorizes the siting of certain wind and solar energy generating facilities in areas zoned for industrial use. It designates that any lot which is at least 20 contiguous acres, owned by a single person or entity and zoned for industrial use would fall under the provisions of the law.

Solar Energy Systems

The second law, S2265/A1558 (Ruiz/Gordon/Turner)/Chivukula/Egan/ Chiappone), requires a developer of new residential development of 25 or more dwelling units to offer to install a solar energy system when a prospective owner enters into negotiations with the developer to purchase a dwelling unit. The cost of the installation would be incurred by the purchaser. Under the law, developers are required to disclose in advertising that a prospective owner may have a solar energy system installed in any unit, the total cost of installation and comprehensive information on solar energy systems. Under this new law, the Commissioner of Community Affairs, in consultation with the Board of Public Utilities (BPU), is responsible for setting technical standards for the solar energy equipment and developers will have to comply within 90 days of the adoption of technical standards.

Grants for Lower Energy Usage

The final bill, S1932/A2507 (Ruiz, D-Essex and Passaic and Gordon, D-Bergen), authorizes the BPU to use revenue from the existing “retail margin” charge levied against large industrial and commercial energy consumers to fund grants for projects designed to lower energy usage and reduce energy cost by those consumers. The grant program will apply to projects which promote combined heat and power co-generation to harness the heat produced from electrical generation to offset other utility bills. Currently, there is over $100 million in the Retail Margin Fund, and the fund is expected continue to grow. Of the funding available, $60 million is slated to provide grants to companies seeking to install or expand combined heat and power production. Under the law, all grants are to be awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis with grant amounts varying based on the amount of energy generated per entity.

Benefits

Senate Environment Committee Chair Bob Smith (D-Middlesex and Somerset) stated that this green packet of legislation will create “hundreds of new green collar jobs in the Garden State…[and] will lower utility bills, advance renewable energy production, and serve as incentives to business growth in the State.” This package of green legislation is expected to be a precursor of a number of pending environmental economic efforts in New Jersey which is widely regarded as a leader in environmental initiatives, including alternative energy and sustainable development.

CONTACT

Claire Pappas
Director of Marketing and Communications

RELATED INFORMATION

Thomas Hoff Prol

Sheri K. Siegelbaum

Public Law