Corzine Lauds Release of Windpower Leases

PRESS RELEASE FROM GOVERNOR CORZINE:
GOVERNOR CORZINE LAUDS RELEASE OF WINDPOWER LEASES
New Jersey takes another step toward energy independence
ATLANTIC CITY – New Jersey moved ahead in growing the Garden State’s clean energy economy with the release of leases for three offshore wind developers, Governor Jon S. Corzine said today during an announcement with Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. The action will shift the State’s wind power projects into the next stage of development.
“This is tremendous news for New Jersey and I thank Secretary Salazar and the Obama Administration for issuing these leases which are so critical to getting the development of our offshore wind turbine projects underway,” Governor Corzine said. “New Jersey’s Outer Continental Shelf is a resource that holds great promise for our energy independence and should be considered a haven for the clean, renewable and environmentally friendly energy that wind power provides. This is a major step for the State meeting its goal of 1000 MW by 2013 and 3000 MW by 2020.”
Governor Corzine’s Energy Master Plan lays out an aggressive strategy to harness offshore energy resources located on the Outer Continental Shelf. In the plan, the Governor set a goal for the State to have 3000 MW of offshore wind constructed off the New Jersey coast by 2020, and 1000 MW by the end of 2013. The Board of Public Utilities (BPU) has awarded $12 million in rebates to three offshore wind developers ($4 million to each developer) to meet these goals.
Other recommendations in the Governor’s Energy Master Plan include maximizing the State’s energy conservation and energy efficiency to achieve reductions in energy consumption of at least 20% by 2020; reducing peak demand for electricity by 5,700 MW by 2020; achieving 30% of the State’s electricity needs from renewable sources by 2020 and investing in innovative clean-energy technologies and businesses to stimulate the industry’s growth in New Jersey.
Governor Corzine recently signed legislation to help achieve those goals. He authorized the BPU to use Retail Margin Fund monies to provide grants for combined heat and power production. He has also required developers to offer solar energy systems in certain new home construction and permitted the location of certain wind and solar facilities in industrial zones. The Governor also signed the Energy Savings Improvement Plan into law, making it easier for municipalities, among other entities, to retrofit municipal buildings and schools with energy-saving measures with no up-front costs.
In 2007, Governor Corzine signed an executive order to mandate a 20-percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, and an 80-percent reduction by 2050. Just over a year ago, he signed a bill into law enabling New Jersey to participate in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, the first mandatory cap-and-trade program in the nation for carbon dioxide.
All of these measures will result in the creation of thousands of “green” jobs for residents in areas that include installation, construction, maintenance and energy operations.
“Today, we have taken a giant step forward to enhance energy security for the region and our nation” Governor Corzine said. “That means thousands of new, high-tech jobs for New Jersey – the jobs of the future, where workers will construct and install the energy production capacity for generations to come.
“I look forward to working with Secretary Salazar and the Obama Administration as we move this country toward a more responsible energy future — one that develops offshore renewable energy, ensures the protection of our natural resources, and moves our nation toward energy independence.”