|
April 14, 2005 |
"The amendments, most importantly, will ensure fairness and equity to
all schools that apply for a New Jersey solar rebate."
- Jeanne M. Fox, President New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
Newark, New Jersey [RenewableEnergyAccess.com] New Jersey's Clean Energy Program has proven so popular that administrators have had to step in and modify it to deal with a surge in interest.
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) approved policy amendments
for New Jersey's Clean Energy Program that address the allocation of funds to
schools and other entities for solar energy projects.
"Today's changes will enhance the fiscal integrity of New Jersey's Clean
Energy Program at a time when demand for solar rebates is at an all time high
and there is a limit to the amount of funding available." said Jeanne M.
Fox, NJBPU President. "The amendments, most importantly, will ensure
fairness and equity to all schools that apply for a New Jersey solar
rebate."
Modifications to the program are in response to a surge in the demand by public
schools for the solar energy rebates, which can save schools up to 60 percent
off the cost of installation.
Combined with other sources of government funding available to the schools, the
cost savings can be even greater. The Program's 2004-2005 budget to support the
development of "Customer On-Site Renewable Energy" (CORE) projects
would have been depleted without policy revisions.
Under the revised policy, clear criteria define when and how the school project
rebates apply, as well as the maximum dollar amounts for which projects may be
eligible. The modified policy establishes a cap of $2.5 million dollars annually
per school district, with the total amount not to exceed $5 million over a
two-year period. An exemption policy also will take into account potential
public benefits such as the projected energy savings of the project.
The CORE program's school rebate application now will reflect criteria that will
enable the NJBPU's Office of Clean Energy to allocate funds to the districts
with the greatest need. Specifically, the new policy includes a formula that
takes into account a district's enrollment and its level of school aid provided
by the State in order to determine the amount of funds it will be eligible to be
awarded. For example, a district with an enrollment of 7,000 students and a
state aid factor of 25 would be eligible for maximum funding level of $441,000.
Comparatively, a district with an enrollment of 1,250 and the same state aid
factor would be eligible for a maximum of $78,000.
"In addition to funding for solar projects at schools, New Jersey's Clean
Energy Program also provides funding for residential projects, commercial and
industrial projects," President Fox added.
Since its establishment in 2002, the CORE Program has provided $1.9 million in
rebates to eight school projects (six solar photovoltaic and two fuel cell
systems).
"The Clean Energy Program is a vital mechanism for promoting viable
alternative energy supplies and energy conservation," said Acting Governor
Richard J. Codey.
Please Note: RenewableEnergyAccess.com and Arizonaenergy.org do not endorse the sites behind these links. We offer them for your additional research. Following these links will open a new browser window.
Copyright © 1999 - 2005 - RenewableEnergyAccess.com
Please visit www.RenewableEnergyAccess.com for great coverage on energy today!!