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TRENTON, N.J., April 6, 2006 /PRNewswire
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) was joined by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and dozens of community and business leaders today in announcing the statewide roll out of the Clean Power Choice program, a voluntary initiative that allows customers to invest in clean energy. This month, every New Jersey customer will receive an optional Clean Power Choice enrollment form with their utility bill. "This coalition is a representative sample of New Jersey's commitment to the investment in clean energy," said President Fox. "For the past several years, thousands of state residents, businesses, colleges, counties and municipalities have participated in the New Jersey Clean Energy Program to save on installing energy efficient technologies that lower their energy use. Clean Power Choice represents another way to help reduce dependency on foreign oil while protecting human health and the environment." "Close to ninety-percent of the state's greenhouse gas emissions come from the combustion of fossil fuel," Commissioner Jackson said. "Global warming, a consequence of increased greenhouse gas emissions, is a serious threat to New Jersey's environment and coastal communities. By investing in clean power resources, New Jersey residents and businesses are playing an important role in improving air quality and reducing pollution." In addition to the NJBPU and DEP, members of the New Jersey Clean Power Choice Coalition include: Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions; Atlantic City Electric; Atlantic County Utilities Authority; Bayonne Board of Education; Borough of Belmar; Borough of Kenilworth; Community Energy, Inc.; Cranford Township; Dome-Tech & Dome-Tech Solar; Eastern Energy Services & Solar; Gabel Associates; Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation; Global Learning, Inc.; GreenFaith; Green Mountain Energy; Hope Township; IBEW Local 269; Isles, Inc.; Jersey Central Power & Light; Johnson & Johnson; Lambertville; Maplewood Township; New Jersey Audubon Society; New Jersey Conference of Mayors; New Jersey Economic Development Authority; New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection; New Jersey Environmental Lobby; New Jersey League of Municipalities; New Jersey Ratepayer Advocate; New Jersey Regional Planning Partnership; New Jersey Resources; New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce; NJ SYNOD; Princeton Township; PSE&G; REC Solar; Rockland Electric Co.; Rowan University; Rutgers University Center for Advanced Energy Systems; Sandy Alexander Inc.; Sierra Club; South Jersey Gas Company; Sterling Planet; Township of Montclair; and US EPA Green Partnership. Several New Jersey Clean Power Choice Coalition members already have made efforts to spread the word about the program. For example, the New Jersey League of Municipalities recently sent a letter to every mayor in the Garden State encouraging municipal officials to promote the Clean Power Choice program within their own communities. "With state and federal officials all calling for the investment in alternative energy technologies and increased renewable energy targets, now is the time for us to act," said William G. Dressel, Jr., Executive Director of the New Jersey League of Municipalities. "With the NJBPU's new Clean Power Choice Program we have the opportunity to encourage our residents to do their part in this effort." The Clean Power Choice program initially was made available to PSE&G and JCP&L in October 2005 and now will expand to include Atlantic City Electric and Rockland Electric Company territories in April 2006. Since the effort began on October 1, 2005, more than 3,000 residential and business customers have signed-up for the program. "Customer choice programs are proving to be a powerful stimulus for growth in renewable energy supply," said Lori Bird, Senior Energy Analyst, National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL). "In 2005, total utility green power sales reached 2.7 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh), a 36% increase over 2004. And an estimated 430,000 customers are participating in utility programs nationwide, up 20% from 2004." Clean Power Choice Program is the first statewide program of its kind where multiple utilities and clean power marketers participate in a joint effort with the state to give consumers access to the regional market for renewable energy. Participating clean power suppliers include: Green Mountain Energy; Community Energy; Sterling Planet; and Jersey-Atlantic Wind, LLC. "New Jersey, as a densely populated coastal state, will feel the brunt of global warming more than any other state in the union. That is why we have to act," said Jeff Tittel, Director, Sierra Club-New Jersey Chapter. "Clean Power Choice provides a simple way for New Jersey residents and businesses to support renewable energy and help reduce greenhouse gases." For as little as $6.00 a month, depending on the product chosen and the amount of electricity a homeowner uses, New Jersey residents can ensure that their electricity needs are served by clean, renewable sources of energy. Each choice offers a slightly different mix of renewable energy resources such as solar, wind, low-impact hydro or landfill gas. The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities is a state agency and regulatory authority mandated to ensure safe, adequate, and proper utility services at reasonable rates for New Jersey customers. Critical services regulated by the NJBPU include natural gas, electricity, water, wastewater, telecommunications and cable television. The Board has general oversight responsibility for monitoring utility service, responding to consumer complaints, and investigating utility accidents. To find out more about the NJBPU, visit our web site at http://www.bpu.state.nj.us About the New Jersey Clean Energy Program New Jersey's Clean Energy Program, established on January 22, 2003 in accordance with the Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act (EDECA), provides financial and other incentives to the State's residential customers, businesses and schools that install high-efficiency or renewable energy technologies, thereby reducing energy usage, lowering customers' energy bills and reducing environmental impacts. The program is authorized and overseen by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU), and its website is http://www.njcleanenergy.com . SOURCE The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities News Provided By |
