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July 29-Aug. 4
Electricity Prices
In February the Herald reported that the impact of three New Jersey Board of Public Utilities rate increases in one year for Atlantic City Electric was a rise of more than 13% in a customer’s electric bill. Those increases are now fully operational and reflected in customer bills. As we said in February, Atlantic City Electric’s residential rates are the highest in the state.
A communication to customers from ACE on Aug. 1 warned that rate changes totaling 18%, or 5% more than reflected in February, “could be impacting your upcoming electricity bills.”
ACE customers pay for their electricity use in multiple ways. A user pays for the basic electricity itself that is not generated by ACE. The same household pays for the transmission and distribution of the electricity over the local grid. Not to be forgotten, users of electricity also pay for recovery of capital investments made by the utility. All rates are approved by the BPU.
Now we find that the transition in the region’s energy profile, most easily explained as the transition from fossil fuels to green energy sources of electricity, is playing havoc with market prices. The uneven, almost lurching transition on a grid that was not designed for it is likely to cause even more harm to the average household in Cape May County.
On Aug. 1, Exelon, the parent company of ACE, said that the PJM Interconnection capacity auction for 2025 electricity generation will likely lead to double-digit rate increases that could be much more significant than any one-year increase experienced to date. This is all unfolding now, and it is unclear how the results of the auction will impact each of the individual utilities Exelon owns, but the signs of the storm clouds are on the horizon.
PJM, for the unfamiliar, is a regional transmission organization for the Eastern Interconnection grid. Yep, the myth of a single U.S. grid is just that, a myth. PJM coordinates the wholesale flow of electricity across its 13 member states, including New Jersey. Some customer groups point the finger at PJM failures as a cause of spiraling rates.
In short, when regional capacity auction prices soar, as the PJM auction’s results showed, significantly higher prices are just around the corner. Those prices are in only one of the three areas mentioned above, and the other two are free to increase as well, independently. Just for the record, the price for a megawatt day of electricity in the auction prior to the most recent one was $28.92. The price in July 2024’s auction was $269.92. When we say that prices soared, it is an understatement.
Flood Zone Rebuilding
Not all the news coming out on development in New Jersey flood zones is burdensome for the property owner. On July 30, the Appellate Division of the state Superior Court ruled that a New Jersey property owner did not have to prove that his home was damaged or decayed in order to gain a permit to replace it, even in a flood hazard zone.
The court upheld the action by the Department of Environmental Protection when it granted a general permit by certification to Kenneth Nicosia of Mantoloking, Ocean County, to rebuild a single-family beach home. Neighbors sued after the DEP denied their request that the permit be rescinded.
The court admitted that the regulations governing the permit issuance are poorly worded, but they concluded that the DEP “reasonably construed” them when it did not require the property owner seeking to replace a lawful existing home to demonstrate that the structure in any way is “decayed, damaged, or otherwise in usable condition.”
Yep, this is the same DEP that is about to file new regulations under the Resilient Environments and Landscapes rubric that would seriously constrain shore development.
Driving and Marijuana
Research continues to be published on the issue of driving under the influence of cannabis. One study published in July in the Journal of Law, Medicine and Ethics tracked the status of state laws regarding marijuana-impaired driving. It shows 29 states, including New Jersey, have laws specifically related to driving under the influence of cannabis.
A 2022 report from the National Transportation Safety Board found alcohol and cannabis were two substances most often identified among fatally injured drivers.
According to Dr. Guohua Li, a professor of epidemiology at Columbia University, marijuana presents more challenges than alcohol in that “the effect of marijuana on cognitive functions and behaviors is much more unpredictable than alcohol. In general, alcohol is a depressant drug. But marijuana could act on the central nervous system as a depressant, a stimulant, and a hallucinogenic substance.”
Several studies have demonstrated marijuana’s impact on driving. According to research, marijuana use can reduce the driver’s ability to pay attention, slow reaction time and impair coordination.
The trend has been inching forward for years. Cannabis use appears to be growing as a factor for road crashes. Legalization may have accelerated the pace of increase of cannabis-impaired drivers.
Drunk drivers are involved in about 25% of motor vehicle fatalities. While alcohol is the most common cause of motor vehicle crashes for impaired drivers of all ages, marijuana is the second. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration called the growing issue of drug-impaired driving a “major highway safety issue.”
Medical or recreational marijuana measures are on the ballot in seven more states this year, so driving under the influence of cannabis is an issue that will not go away anytime soon.
Happenings
A broken turbine blade in the Vineyard Wind offshore wind farm led to debris washing ashore in Nantucket, causing federal officials to suspend operations. Cape May County Commissioner Director Leonard Desiderio criticized the incident, reiterating opposition to offshore wind projects over environmental and economic concerns.
Wildwood Mayor Ernie Troiano Jr. voiced concerns about vulgar T-shirts on the boardwalk, while North Wildwood Mayor Patrick Rosenello suggested using zoning laws to hold property owners accountable and address the issue.
Susan Priester, inspired by her father’s love of jazz, is a major supporter of Cape May’s cultural events, including the Cape May Music Festival. As a second homeowner, she emphasizes the importance of giving back to maintain the community’s unique charm and infrastructure.
Cape May County residents and officials are questioning the DEP’s REAL program, which mandates elevated construction standards due to projected sea level rise. They argue that the regulations could have significant economic impacts and call for a more realistic and gradual implementation.
The U.S. Pharmacopeia’s new standard promotes synthetic recombinant agents over horseshoe crab blood for endotoxin testing, supporting conservation efforts. This shift aims to protect horseshoe crabs, vital for shorebird migration, and reduce environmental pressures.
Avalon Borough’s plan to relocate a failed outflow pipe has sparked controversy and accusations of hidden agendas, as residents question the transparency and motives behind the decision. The proposed move involves modifying a permit and has led to concerns about potential impacts on property development and public funds.
Ronaldo Santiago Jr., 40, of Rio Grande, was arrested for stealing an iPad and two bicycles after being identified through surveillance footage. He admitted to the thefts and led police to the recovered items.
Brandan L. Rollans, 25, of Blackwood, was arrested on July 31 for eluding police and leaving the scene of a pedestrian hit-and-run. He faces multiple charges, including eluding and resisting arrest, and is being held in the Cape May County Correctional Center.
Middle and Dennis townships will vote on Sept. 17 for school tax hikes: Middle seeks $26.5 million for upgrades, while Dennis asks for $2.2 million annually to sustain programs. Special elections are used to increase approval chances despite additional costs.
In Cape May County, seven of 14 law enforcement agencies reported major disciplinary actions in 2023, involving 12 officers. Cases ranged from demotions and suspensions to terminations for misconduct including racial slurs, insubordination, and criminal behavior.
At 101, Richard B. “Dick” Hargrave reminisces about his lifetime of changes in Cape May Point, from summer adventures in the 1920s to his current life on Stites Avenue. Despite the transformations, he fondly remembers the town’s sense of community and his active role in its history.
Shirley Green, founder of the Whitesboro Historical Foundation, is spearheading efforts to preserve and incorporate the historically Black community of Whitesboro. Despite challenges, her mission is to safeguard the community’s legacy and ensure its future.
Spout Off of the Week
Wildwood Crest – Can we please stop allowing any cycling on sidewalks? I’ve seen too many kids, dogs, elderly walkers, etc… almost get hit by both electric and regular bikes!
Read more spouts at spoutoff.capemaycountyherald.com.
