Share this
Twitter
Myspace
Digg
Del.icio.us
Reddit
Slashdot
Furl
Yahoo
Technorati
Newsvine
Facebook
Export PDF
Print
E-mail
Tags
BY TOM HESTER SR.
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
As his gubernatorial rival takes his energy plan on a two-day campaign trip through three counties, Gov. Jon Corzine Tuesday announced the availability of over $20 million in federal aid for competitive grants for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects at state facilities, including public colleges.
The federal stimulus aid, which is designed to help support the national economy during the current recession, requires that the funding be used to advance New Jersey's clean energy goals. It also requires the aid be used to supplement rather than replace existing funding.
"President Obama and I share the same energy goals," Corzine said. "We want to put our people to work in a new, green economy that provides energy security for our country and reduces the greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming. The projects we fund under this grant program will help us achieve all these goals while reducing energy costs at public facilities."
Technologies eligible under the grant program include wind, solar, hydro and geothermal energy; biofuels and energy storage applications that are used for renewable energy technologies. Projects also will be evaluated based on the amount of energy created or saved an d the reductions in greenhouse gas emissions that result from the project.As Republican gubernatorial challenger Chris Christie was in Robbinsville detailing his renewable energy plan at the EPV Solar Co., Corzine was in West Windsor praising the Princeton Power System rapid growth in the clean energy industry.
Corzine appeared to mark the opening of Princeton Power System's new headquarters.
In eight years, Princeton Power has since grown from a staff of 3 to 30 at it attempts to develop advanced power conversion technologies in an effort to provide a more reliable and cost-effective means for converting electric power cleanly and efficiently.
"The state's support since the very beginning has been critical to our success, and our latest expansion will ensure we continue to grow and create more jobs in New Jersey," said Marshall Cohen, Princeton Power's president.
Christie feels the governor should be New Jersey's top advocate of renewable energy and would provide tax breaks and promote the state's educated workforce to lure energy companies.
Commenting on Corzine's Princeton Power appearance, Bill Stepien, Christie's campaign manager, said, "Making New Jersey a leader in renewable energy requires more than just a 'me too' attitude and a lot of talk. Instead of today's last minute photo-op, Governor Corzine should have visited EPV Solar to see for himself why this renewable manufacturing company has been forced to stop production and take its jobs overseas. Jon Corzine has done nothing but talk a good game, when the reality is that just under 2 percent of our energy comes from renewables. New Jersey ranks 43rd in production and wind and solar companies want to set up shop anywhere but here."
Corzine campaign staff was quick to point out that two of Christie's campaign co-chairs, Rep. Leonard Lance (R-7th. Dist.) and Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-2nd Dist.) cited the governor's energy policies as justification for their votes in favor of Obama's clean energy plan, which passed the House on June 26.
Lance and LoBiondo were among eight House Republicans who joined Democrats in voting for the American Clean Energy and Security Act, which is designed to combat global warming, end America's dependence on foreign oil and jump start the economy by investing in local development of new clean energy technologies.
"The fact of the matter is New Jersey and the Northeast are well ahead of the curve on many of the key elements of the legislation before the House,'' Lance said.
"Here at home, the state of New Jersey is already subject to limits on greenhouse gas emissions from power plants under the ten-state Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. And our state renewable portfolio standard is more aggressive than the federal program contained in the bill.''
For more information on Corzine's energy master plan, visit www.nj.gov/emp/.
For more information on Christie's plan, visit www.ChristieforNJ.com
Businesses interested in learning more about the state's Clean Energy Solutions opportunities can visit www.njeda.com.
The state Board of Public Utilities is accepting applications until 5 p.m. on August 7, 2009. For applications and additional information, visit www.nj.gov/bpu.
