Green Jersey

Environmentalists: Improve Energy Master Plan

Environmentalists criticized the draft Energy Master Plan yesterday and called on Gov. Corzine to improve it.

Their remarks yesterday in Trenton came one day before the first of three public hearings on the plan (which is to take place this morning at 9:30 a.m. in Newark’s Gateway Center, Board of Public Utilities hearing room).

Environmentalists from the Sierra Club, N.J. Environmental Federation, Environment New Jersey and the North Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance called on the governor to do more to promote renewable energy in the state and supported the goal of generating enough renewable energy, including wind and solar, to power about 1.8 million households by 2020. They encouraged him to set a goal of generating 40 percent of the state’s electricity needs from renewable sources by 20205, and: Reduce emissions from cars, trucks and commercial and residential water and space heaters, not build any new coal or nuclear power plants, clean up or phase out existing coal and nuclear plants (including Oyster Creek), and increase energy efficiency standards for appliances, new construction and major renovations.

The draft plan now calls for reducing the state’s energy demand 20 percent by 2020, generating 22.5 percent of electricity with renewable sources and developing new power plants.

The state’s last Energy Master Plan was developed in 1996, and this one is already more than two years overdue.

The hearing today is to reconvene at 1:30 p.m. and continue until all comments are heard, according to the EMP website.

The two other public hearings are scheduled for July 15 at 9:30 a.m. in the State House Annex, Committee Room 6 (145 West State St., Trenton) and July 17 at 2 p.m. at Tohill Auditorium, Bunce Hall, Rowan University (Glassboro).

You also can e-mail comments (in Microsoft Word format, with Draft EMP Comments in the subject line) to energymasterplan[at]bpu.state.nj.us or mail them to:

New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
Office of Policy and Planning
Attention: Draft EMP Comments
Two Gateway Center
Newark, New Jersey 07102