New Jersey Governor Corzine released a draft of his 15-year Energy Master Plan last week, and a coalition of environmentalists and clean energy advocates faulted the plan for lacking in vision and failing to realize New Jersey’s full clean energy potential.
"This was an important test of Governor Corzine’s commitment to clean energy, and we have to grade him a D," said Matt Elliott, Global Warming and Clean Energy Advocate at Environment New Jersey. "His plans to reduce energy demand and promote clean alternatives fall short of our state’s potential, and he has failed to minimize our reliance on dirty and dangerous power plants."
Nine months ago, Governor Corzine signed the Global Warming Response Act and committed the state to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 20% by 2020, and by at least 80% by 2050. The law is one of the toughest global warming laws in the nation, and Corzine pledged to use his Energy Master Plan to detail strategies to meet the 2020 goals and set the state on track to meet the 2050 goals.
"Unfortunately, despite Governor Corzine’s promises on global warming and clean energy, this plan fails to measure up," said Elliott. "The challenges presented by global warming demand a visionary plan and unprecedented political leadership. This plan lacks both."
While the plan calls for renewable energy and greater energy efficiency, environmental leaders said the governor’s goals fall far short of the state’s potential. In addition, they said, the plan fails to detail the specific steps the state will take to achieve its goals.
The groups put out an alternate vision, calling upon the governor to increase his wind, solar and efficiency goals, and to support emerging clean-energy technologies.
With the right plan from the Governor, they argue, the state could:
- Promote highly efficient homes, buildings, and appliances and cut energy demand 10% below today’s levels. The Governor’s goal will stabilize demand at current levels.
- Generate 1750 megawatts (MW) of clean electricity by harnessing New Jersey’s offshore winds–enough to power at least 450,000 New Jersey homes per year. Their plan would generate 75% more wind energy than the Governor’s proposal.
- Bring solar panels to tens of thousands of rooftops within the decade.
- Eliminate the need to expand fossil fuel or nuclear power plants.
The coalition also criticized the plan for failing to assess the state’s current fleet of power plants. The plan does not determine which current power plants the state should plan to keep online, which it should clean up, or which it should aim to phase out.
"New Jersey is at a historic crossroads," said Dave Pringle of the NJ Environmental Federation. "Governor Corzine is missing the opportunity to truly go green, drive the 21st century economy, and rid ourselves of the 19th and 20th century technologies that saddle the state with so many environmental, public health and security problems. The question is not coal versus nuclear to keep the lights on, but rather those antiquated, dangerous technologies versus cutting edge clean renewable and efficient solutions.
Added Michael Pisauro of the New Jersey Environmental Lobby: "Goals without a road map on how to achieve them are worse than empty promises. You will never realize you are lost until it is too late. The EMP’s goals for renewable energy can never be met without the State’s active involvement. With this EMP the State is not involved."
The Governor’s plan comes at a time when New Jerseyans are saddled with a host of energy-related issues. The cost of traditional fuels has risen sharply in recent years, with no end in sight. Consumers are paying record prices to fuel up their cars and to heat their homes. The cost of electricity has risen significantly as the cost of coal, gas, and uranium makes power plants increasingly expensive to operate. And global concerns of foreign imports, global security, and global warming, have left the public clamoring for energy alternatives.
The Energy Master Plan is currently in draft form and open for public comment.
Fletcher Harper, Executive Director of GreenFaith, said his network of faith-based institutions plans to weigh in on the plan. "Global warming is one of the most important moral issues of our time, and New Jersey has an obligation to offer strong leadership. Unfortunately, the Energy Master Plan falls short. Future generations will look at it and ask what we were thinking."
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