Governor Corzine Announces Ten-Fold Increase in Solar Energy Installations Since 2006
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ – October 5, 2009 – (RealEstateRama) — Governor Jon S. Corzine today announced that solar energy installations in New Jersey increased ten-fold since 2006. The state now has 100 megawatts (MW) of solar energy installed, which is enough to supply the electricity needs for more than 15,000 New Jersey homes. As a result, New Jersey now has the most solar installations in the country per square mile, surpassing California by nearly two to one. The Governor made the announcement during the second annual Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Governors’ (NEMAG) Clean Energy Innovation Forum.
Governor Corzine also said that since 2006, more than 110,000 homes in New Jersey have received energy efficiency improvements and nearly 6,000 businesses have received support for energy efficiency implementation. In addition, 20 percent of new homes – approximately 18,000 – are certified New Jersey Energy Star Homes.
Applauding the Obama Administration for a new federal-state partnership that promotes clean energy, greenhouse gas reductions, and ‘green’ jobs across the nation, Governor Corzine said, “Today we have an administration in Washington that shares our concerns about climate change and our specific vision in New Jersey of an economic revival with the development of ‘green’ jobs from renewable energy, energy efficiency, and conservation.”
Governor Corzine added that the U.S. Department of Energy through its Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program has just released $14.4 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding to New Jersey.
The State will use the ARRA funds to continue state and local efforts to implement programs and projects that reduce fossil fuel emissions, expand renewable energy generation, decrease energy use, and improve energy efficiency.
“Through these ARRA funds, New Jersey will be making major investments in energy efficiency and conservation as well as expanding renewable generation,” said Governor Corzine. “Energy infrastructure projects such as these will enhance our economy, generate ‘green’ jobs, and create a more secure energy future for our state and our citizens.”
Governor Corzine highlighted his administration’s implementation of current short- and long-term clean energy projects and programs under New Jersey’s Energy Master Plan, which was adopted by the State in 2008:
- Reaching 4000 solar installations this past summer, making New Jersey second only to California in number of installations and capacity, but first it terms of the amount of solar installed per square mile.
- Building New Jersey’s solar generating capacity, which recently crossed the 100 megawatt threshold for the state’s Clean Energy Program.
- Completion of the geophysical work and substantial progress on the geotechnical and ecological research required as a prelude to construction of three proposed offshore wind farms.
- Crossing the 50,000 threshold of customers in the state’s Comfort Partners program, a collaboration with the state’s utilities to bring energy efficiency to limited-income households.
- Over the past four years,more than 110,000 homes and 6,000 businesses have received support for energy efficiency improvements from our Clean Energyprogram and almost 18,000 homes – 20% of those constructed – have been certified as New Jersey Energy Star Homes.
Governor Corzine also re-affirmed his commitment to supporting aggressive clean energy programs that stimulate economic growth, combat climate change, and express the benefits of regional cooperation with regards to developing challenging energy projects.
“We’re not just developing our clean energy capacity,” added Governor Corzine. “We’re building a clean energy economy for New Jersey’s future with industries and manufacturers of products and services that we can export to the world.”
Through 2020, the actions that Governor Corzine’s administration have taken in New Jersey are projected to stimulate $33 billion worth of investment into energy infrastructure, create 20,000 direct jobs, save consumers nearly $30 billion in energy savings, spur continued energy efficiency innovation, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the electricity and heating fuel sector to 23 percent — below 1990 levels.
The NEMAG Clean Energy Innovation Forum is organized by the Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA) a national nonprofit organization that works with state clean energy funds and state agencies to advance markets for clean energy technologies and promote multi-state collaboration and information sharing. Economic development opportunities of clean energy initiatives are one of the main themes of the conference. Participating states are also hoping to develop a regional consensus on recommendations on the appropriate role for the states in the emerging federal-state partnership on energy and climate change issues.
States represented at the forum have a history of regional collaboration on air quality and climate change issues, most recently through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative to reduce emissions from energy producers. A third emphasis of the forum includes establishing priority issues for discussions with the federal government to facilitate the development of offshore wind generation.
Attendees at the two-day forum represent NEMAG states and a number of federal agencies including the Department of Energy, Department of the Interior and the Environmental Protection Agency. The eleven NEMAG states include Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont. The District of Columbia is also a member.
For More Information:
Robert Corrales
Phone: 609-777-2600
