As the new home of NJPIRG's environmental work, Environment New Jersey can be contacted regarding this news release.
TRENTON—On the eve
of Earth Day, NJPIRG, The Sun Farm Network, the New Jersey Farm Bureau, the
Lutheran Office of Governmental Ministry in New Jersey, Green Faith, and several
other solar energy supporters and users gathered with the Board of Public Utilities
Office of Clean Energy today to take note of the diverse users that have contributed
to solar energy’s growth in New Jersey. The Board of Public Utilities also
outlined their next steps in a plan to continue that development for years to
come.
“On Earth Day, it is appropriate to stop and realize that this world is
blanketed in enough clean, non-polluting energy from the sun in one day to power
our world for a full year,” said Jeanne Fox, President, New Jersey Board
of Public Utilities. “Harnessing that energy can change our world for the
better. In New Jersey, we know about changing our world—with our favorite
son Tom Edison having invented a way for us to hold electricity in our hands.
Over the years, we at BPU have helped to finance the development of that system.
We helped to change the world. We are now helping to finance a way to hold the
electricity generator in your hand with solar photoelectric systems and again
change our world for the better.”
The fast growth of solar energy in New Jersey is no accident. The BPU Office
of Clean Energy offers rebates to homes and businesses that install solar panels
to help defray the initial costs of installation. Another reason for success
is the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard, which requires power companies
to purchase “Renewable Energy Credits” from solar energy to diversify
their energy sources and increase the amount of clean energy in New Jersey’s
electricity mix.
“Clean energy like
solar power benefits our environment and fuels our economy with renewable energy
sources at stable prices. New Jersey must now build on our success by ramping
up our clean energy standards to 20 percent of our use by 2020,” said Emily
Rusch, Energy Advocate for NJPIRG.
A recent study by the Rutgers Center for Energy Economics and Environmental
Policy found that a 20 percent Clean Energy Standard would lead to negligible,
if any, increased costs for electricity, and a variety of economic and environmental
benefits, including up to 11,700 new jobs in the state. Growing companies like
The Sun Farm Network are examples of growth that has already occurred.
“The extension and
expansion of the RPS requirements to 20 percent by 2020, builds on the critical
regulatory mechanism that recognizes the real societal benefit of solar energy
economically. It sends a strong and unambiguous signal to the private sector,
attracting capital which translates into more clean, renewable energy for NJ
electricity customers. It creates jobs, cleans the air, diversifies our energy
supply…..it just makes sense,” said Pamela Frank from The Sun Farm
Network in Flemington.
Solar energy has been embraced
by many different types of users over the past few years, including farms, churches,
schools, large corporations, small businesses, and residential homes. Thanks
to that support, the BPU Office of Clean Energy recently received their 1000th
application for a solar energy installation.
“Farmers are embracing
solar energy because renewable energy is a natural fit for a farm, and it matches
well to those who already have a commitment to the land. In addition, the financial
incentives make solar energy a smart business decision for farms,” said
Pete Furey from the New Jersey Farm Bureau.
Religious groups are also
putting up solar panels on their houses of worship, including recent installation
at a Lutheran Church in Mendham.
“People of faith believe
that using solar power is a way to protect the good earth that God has given
us. We are called to be stewards of creation, and that’s what solar power
is all about,” said Fletcher Harper of Green Faith in Trenton.
In the presence of these
supporters, the Board of Public Utilities announced that they will hold two
meetings in May and June to bring in interested parties to discuss plans to
increase the Renewable Portfolio Standard.
“Increasing New Jersey’s
clean energy standards is the single most important step Governor Codey and
Board of Public Utilities can take to lock in the benefits of clean energy for
New Jersey,” concluded Rusch.
