Green, Solar & Wind Power

Green Generators New Jersey Natural Gas is giving environmentalists a chance to show how deeply they believe in cleaning up the state's smog-fouled air. In the first initiative of its kind in the nation, the Wall-based natural gas utility is offering its 450,000 customers the opportunity to voluntarily contribute to a statewide fund set up to promote cleaner sources of energy, such as solar and wind power.

The state is closer to deciding how to spend $120 million to promote renewable energy sources like solar and wind power and encourage businesses and residents to cut their energy use. The staff of the state Board of Public Utilities developed the proposed spending package for the Clean Energy Council, a new group set up to advise the agency on where and how the money should be spent. The council is expected to act on the plan early next month.

Solar Panel Donations to the New Jersey Clean Energy Program, which promotes programs to conserve energy and to develop renewable sources of energy, will be matched by the utility 50 cents for every dollar donated, up to $50,000.

Scottish Power H20 power is clean, effective and harnesses the power of nature to provide energy for you. And with ScottishPower’s new Green Energy H2O option, we match the amount of electricity you use with a supply of clean, power into the electricity grid. “The significance of Scotland's hydro resource is often forgotten and we welcome Scottish Power's Green Energy H20 tariff and the opportunity that this presents for consumers to choose to source their energy from a renewable tariff” (Friends of the Earth Scotland)

Epa Greenpower "Our commitment to our communities includes working to protect the environment and preserve our natural resources," said Laurence Downes, chairman and chief executive officer of New Jersey Resources, the owner of the utility.

Instead of perpetuating our dependence on dirty fossil fuel sources, as Conectiv proposed, New Jersey can displace the need for any new power plants by reducing energy waste and developing clean sources of energy like wind and solar power.

Wind Energy The McGreevey administration has made a concerted effort to promote renewable energy sources, setting a target of having 20 percent of the state's energy generated by cleaner sources by the year 2020. Besides reducing air pollution in a state which has never achieved federal health standards for smog, the administration argues the development of solar and wind power and other technologies could create thousands of jobs in New Jersey.

What environmentalists propose is the reduction of the need for foreign oil through the development of renewable energy sources. A cursory survey of the Internet confirms this. On its Web site the Sierra Club ( www.sierraclub.org) encourages the use of "clean, renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, geothermal and clean biomass" as a means of "increasing energy security by diversifying energy sources."

Solar Its efforts, however, to date, have been mixed.

Energy provided by home solar panels is the cleanest method available today. No environmental pollution is created. The US federal agencies are strongly promoting solar panel use. There is a federal energy bill that includes a tax credit for up to thirty percent of the initial cost of home solar panels. The credit caps at two thousand dollars. Several states also offer incentive plans to promote home solar panel usage.

Nuclear Power Earlier this week, the state shelved a plan to allow start up a pilot program allowing consumers next year to choose green energy suppliers as their energy supplier and decided to allow another pilot green program run by Jersey Central Power & Light to expire next spring.

Greenpower Inc Neither Downes nor state officials would guess how much the latest program will raise from customers but expect a good response.

Solar Electricity It's a way that people in New Jersey can contribute to a cleaner environment," said Michael Winka, director of the New Jersey Clean Energy Office in the state Board of Public Utilities. "If this is important, then we have to build the fund."

Power Greene Ratepayers already pay a small surcharge on their utility electric and gas bills, which raises $124 million to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy.

Green Electric Besides the voluntary contribution program, New Jersey Natural Gas yesterday installed a photovoltaic cell system atop the roof that will generate approximately 9 percent of the electricity needed by its service center in Wall through solar power. The project cost $195,117. The utility will receive a rebate from the clean energy program of $106,520 to help offset the cost.

Am Greenpower By Tom Johnsoon
Star-Ledger - 10/24/2003

Topic: Energy

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