David Beavers
Environment New Jersey Research & Policy Center
Dear state leaders:
As local and state civic leaders, we encourage you to make solar energy a key element of New Jersey’s energy portfolio.
By using solar energy to power our homes, businesses, schools, farms and government buildings, we can reduce pollution, save consumers on their energy bills, and boost local economies. New Jersey has long been a leader in solar energy, yet we have still barely tapped the full potential of our solar resources.
Solar is growing in New Jersey and across the country. Between 2010 and 2013, solar capacity in New Jersey grew by more than 66 percent per year. In the first half of 2014, more than half of the new electric power capacity installed in the U.S. was solar. This recent progress shows solar is poised to grow in leaps and bounds.
Solar helps the environment, and it boosts local economies in the process. Jobs in the solar industry grew ten times faster than the rest of the economy in 2013, as the solar industry added more new jobs than any other industry. And because solar has no fuel costs, it helps protect us from fluctuating fossil fuel prices.
Using solar here in New Jersey will help to protect our environment while creating local jobs that cannot be outsourced.
By committing New Jersey to expanding solar, we are investing in a virtually limitless energy source with no fuel costs. For the sake of our environment, our health, and the economy, we ask that you join us in calling upon our state officials to commit to the goal of generating 20 percent of our electricity from solar by 2025. We can achieve that goal if we grow solar by approximately 21 percent annually.
The cost of solar is declining. The cost of air and water pollution from fossil fuels is growing, along with the threats posed by climate change. Please help to set strong goals for solar in New Jersey, to put us on a path to clean energy leadership.
Sincerely,
NAME
AFFILIATION
Senator Jim Whelan
Legislative District 2
Assemblyman Daniel Benson
Legislative District 14
Assemblyman Reed Gusciora
Legislative District 15
Assemblyman Carmelo G. Garcia
Legislative District 33
Assemblyman Tim Eustace
Legislative District 38
Freeholder Thomas J. Sullivan
Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders
Freeholder Andrew Koontz
Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders
Freeholder Samuel T. Frisby
Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders
Freeholder Ann M. Cannon
Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders
Freeholder Anthony P. Carabelli
Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders
Freeholder John Cimino
Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders
Freeholder Pasquale Colavita
Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders
Freeholder Lucylle R. S. Walter
Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders
Committeeman John Graefe
Bethlehem Township
Councilman Anthony Costa
Bloomingdale
Committeeman John Moynihan
Bordentown Township
Mayor John J. Cosgrove
Borough of Fair Lawn
Councilman Kurt Peluso
Borough of Fair Lawn
Councilwoman Lisa Swain
Borough of Fair Lawn
Council President Armand Pohan
Borough of Fort Lee
Councilman Joseph Cervieri
Borough of Fort Lee
Councilwoman Ila Kasofsky
Borough of Fort Lee
Councilman Michael Sargenti
Borough of Fort Lee
Councilman Harvey Sohmer
Borough of Fort Lee
Councilman Peter Suh
Borough of Fort Lee
Councilman Padraic Millet
Borough of Highland Park
Councilwoman Elsie Foster-Dublin
Borough of Highland Park
Councilman Gary Potts
Borough of Highland Park
Councilman Jon Erickson
Borough of Highland Park
Councilman Philip George
Borough of Highland Park
Councilwoman Doriann Kerber
Borough of Milltown
Councilman Theodore D. Holloway II
Borough of Paulsboro
Councilman Ernest Reevey
Borough of South Tom’s River
Mayor Nicholas Poliseno
Borough of Spotswood
Councilman Richard DeLucry
Brigantine
Mayor Ann Dassing
Caldwell
Mayor Charles Daniel
Califon
Committee Member Michael Kelly
Chatham Township
Councilman Romal D. Bullock
East Orange
Deputy Mayor Robert Apgar
Eastampton Township
Mayor Mike Trainor
Edgewater Park Township
Councilman Manny Grova Jr.
Elizabeth
Councilman Glen Pettigano
Elmwood Park
Council President Lynne Algrant
Englewood
Committeeman Richard T. Cornely
Harmony Township
Township Administrator Mark L. Gravinese
Harrison Township
Councilman Frank Padula
Hopatcong
Councilwoman Diane Coleman
Jersey City
Councilwoman Candice Osbourne
Jersey City
Councilwoman Rhashonna Cosby-Hurling
Linden
Commissioner John J. Montillo Jr.
Lyndhurst
Mayor Victor De Luca
Maplewood
Deputy Mayor Kathleen M. Leventhal
Maplewood
Councilman Augusto Amador
Newark
Councilman Anibal Ramos Jr.
Newark
Councilman John Sharpe James
Newark
Councilwoman Gayle Chaneyfield Jenkins
Newark
Councilman Joseph R. Lawver
Penningtonboro
Mayor Liz Lempert
Princeton
Councilman John M. Lamia Jr.
Sea Bright
Councilman Michael S. Di Croce, Esq.
Shamong Township
Councilman Daniel Shea
Town of Clinton
Mayor Michael J. Gonnelli
Town of Secaucus
Environmental Coordinator Amanda J. Nesheiwat
Town of Secaucus
Councilman L. T. Mascilak
Union Beach
Mayor Scott McDonald
Washington Borough (Warren County)
Councilwoman Josephine Noone
Washington Borough (Warren County)
Councilman George M. Borek
West Windsor
Councilman Peter Mendonez Jr.
West Windsor
Committeewoman Evelyn M. Leverett
Winslow Township
Councilman Daniel Reddin
Woodbury
Councilman Richard Gambale
Woodbury Heights