Ghosts of energy past have no place in New Jersey's future

RELEASE: Nov. 23, 2007 – Volume XXXIX, No. 47

Power generation is a big contributor to global warming. Because New Jersey is a net importer of energy – meaning we use more than we make within our borders – we face serious challenges in meeting both our current needs and an anticipated 1.5-percent annual growth in additional energy uses.

Governor Corzine is now drafting New Jersey’s next Energy Master Plan (EMP) to meet that challenge. The plan is required by New Jersey state law, and must be updated periodically. It will have a major impact on our environment, and citizens can help make New Jersey a visionary leader in energy policy by voicing support for clean, renewable energy.

The Energy Master Plan will implement New Jersey’s goal of reducing emission levels 20 percent by 2020, and 80 percent by 2050. These targets were adopted this past summer as part of a law to combat global warming. New Jersey was the third state in the U.S. to require these caps and the first to set an emissions cap target as far into the future as 2050.

New Jersey should set an example for the rest of the country by stressing energy conservation and clean, renewable energy sources. Environment New Jersey (ENJ), for instance, is petitioning Governor Corzine to:

• reduce the state's energy consumption by 10 percent, through high-performance homes, businesses, and appliances;
• increase the amount of energy we get from renewable sources, such as solar and wind, to 25 percent by 2025;
• phase out inefficient, outdated and polluting power plants;
• require any power consumed in New Jersey to meet strict global warming emissions standards.

When it comes to cutting energy consumption, it’s pretty easy to be green. If every household in America replaced one 60-watt bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb, the energy saved would be enough to power $1.5 million homes and the pollution saving would be equal to taking 1.3 million cars off the road! Imagine if we replaced all our light bulbs with compact fluorescents! Given the enormous potential savings from such a small change, we would be foolish not to invest in conservation.

Although there will be opportunities for public comment after the draft plan is released, Gov. Corzine will move quickly to implement this plan in the spring of 2008. So now is the time to voice your thoughts to the governor. Wise choices for green energy in the state’s plan will ensure that our environment also wins as we attempt to meet future energy demands.

You can learn more about the state EMP at nj.gov/emp. The ENJ website (www.environmentnewjersey.org/energy/new-energy-future-for-new-jersey) has additional information, as well as opportunities to petition Gov. Corzine to focus on energy conservation and renewable energy sources.

I hope you’ll contact me at info@njconservation.org, or visit NJCF’s website at www.njconservation.org, for more information about conserving New Jersey’s precious land and natural resources.

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