facts, analysis, exposure of wind energy's real impacts Windaction http://www.windaction.org/articles/c52+92?theme=atom Xarayar 2006-06-12T02:16:27Z .34040 2012-01-09T06:16:56Z 2012-01-09T06:16:56Z

"Although establishing responsible wind energy generation on farmland is an important goal, this bill is too broad and may have the unintended consequence of undermining (the program) by opening preserved farms to large, utility-scale development," the veto message reads.

.33972 2011-12-29T17:01:29Z 2011-12-29T17:01:29Z

The bills essentially target farms located only in Cumberland and Salem counties, because those are the only two counties in the state that meet the low population-density threshold as outlined in the bills. The laws do not apply to farms in coastal areas or regions governed by Pinelands and Highlands legislation.

.33084 2011-09-20T12:09:24Z 2011-09-20T12:09:24Z

It also voted to require New Jersey to obtain 30 percent of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2020 - a standard Gov. Christie three months ago called unrealistic and dropped back to 22.5 percent in his energy master plan. Lobbyists and advocates jammed the third-floor hearing room of the Senate Environmental and Energy Committee to testify.

.32632 2011-07-31T03:07:21Z 2011-07-31T03:07:21Z

But opponents say the programs hurt the economy when power plants pass the cost of buying emissions on to customers. They say emissions are dropping not because of cap-and-trade programs but because of the economic downturn and the reduced cost of natural gas, a cleaner source of energy.

.32118 2011-06-08T02:08:50Z 2011-06-08T02:08:50Z

Christie's 141-page blueprint calls for reconsideration of other energy programs, including solar power, which New Jersey has been a national leader in promoting. At the news conference, the governor said the administration wanted to decrease the percentage of renewable sources in its portfolio to 22.5 percent because the 30 percent required was not achievable.

.32048 2011-05-27T13:08:31Z 2011-05-27T13:08:31Z

"RGGI is nothing more than a tax on electricity, a tax on our residents and on businesses with no discernible effect on our environment," he said. "We remain completely committed to make the environment of our state and world better. We're not going to do it by participating in gimmicky programs that don't work."

.32047 2011-05-26T20:26:45Z 2011-05-26T20:26:45Z

"RGGI drives up energy costs for consumers at a time when nobody can afford any additional taxes," Sen. Diane Allen (R-Burlington), who recently signed on to legislation to repeal the initiative, said in a statement.

.29517 2010-10-17T19:31:31Z 2010-10-17T19:31:31Z

Residents of Sea Girt and Manasquan have loudly opposed the DMAVA's plans to build a federally funded 325-foot turbine at its National Guard Training Center, a state-owned parcel of land that lies between the two boroughs. Kean said the Office of Legislative Services in Trenton is researching laws in California, Illinois and Europe regarding turbine setback requirements.

.29480 2010-10-14T09:07:27Z 2010-10-14T09:07:27Z

Even if investors are convinced the ORECs are sufficient, there also are risks to developers when setting their prices. If set too high, no will buy the certificates, said Jeff Tittel, executive director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. If set too low, the project will fail on its economics, he said.

.29414 2010-10-07T18:06:15Z 2010-10-07T18:06:15Z

"After listening to both sides of the debate, I have come to the conclusion that wind turbines should not be built near residential neighborhoods," said Senator Kean. "I am drafting legislation that will increase their minimum setback." Residents of Sea Girt have noted that the negatives of having wind turbines near residential homes outweigh the potential benefits.

.28471 2010-07-23T12:34:54Z 2010-07-23T12:34:54Z

The cost to ratepayers could increase electric bills by hundred dollars or more a year, if the planned transmission lines were constructed, Edelston said. Paul Patterson, an energy analyst with Glenrock Associates in New York, said the issue of building new transmission lines to move renewable energy is one of the more contentious issues before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

.27994 2010-06-29T07:53:21Z 2010-06-29T07:53:21Z

The landmark legislation (A-2873) know as the Offshore Wind Economic Development Act establish an offshore wind renewable energy certificate program and authorize the Economic Development Authority to provide up to $100 million in tax credits for wind energy facilities.

.27952 2010-06-25T15:47:29Z 2010-06-25T15:47:29Z

Legislation to promote development of offshore wind power for New Jersey was released today by an Assembly panel and is due to be voted on by both the state Senate and Assembly on Monday. The legislation known as the Offshore Wind Economic Development Act establishes an offshore wind renewable energy certificate program.

.27895 2010-06-24T03:13:31Z 2010-06-24T03:13:31Z

Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen), the chairman of the budget panel, reflected lawmakers' fears about the cost to consumers when he told Martin: "My concern is very simple. The cost of this energy is quite expensive.'' In Massachusetts, Sarlo noted, the Cape Wind offshore wind project is now expected to cost consumers there $200 million more on their electric bills in the first year.

.27893 2010-06-23T03:00:36Z 2010-06-23T03:00:36Z

New Jersey's effort to power much of the state with off-shore windmills will mean higher electric bills, state officials said today during a legislative review of the state's proposed Offshore Wind Economic Development Act. Business and industry consultants put the additional cost to ratepayers at between $7 billion and $14 billion over 20 years.

.27793 2010-06-15T12:42:56Z 2010-06-15T12:42:56Z

The state's effort to promote offshore wind farms is getting a bit of blowback from the state's business community. In a move advocates say could vault New Jersey to the forefront of states aiming to harness offshore wind as a clean and free source of energy, the Senate Environment and Energy Committee yesterday approved legislation designed to help developers finance wind projects off the Jersey coast.

.26246 2010-03-18T13:46:35Z 2010-03-18T13:46:35Z

Newly-elected Republican Governor Chris Christie announced proceeds from the northeastern US cap-and-trade programme's quarterly allowance auctions would be used to plug the budget deficit, details of which were released yesterday. New Jersey has raised $64.5 million in proceeds from the sale of emission allowances in the scheme's seven auctions, which were held on a quarterly basis since late 2008.

.24005 2009-11-09T17:16:56Z 2009-11-09T17:16:56Z

Township Committee members here hope someone can stop a state green energy bill now awaiting Governor Jon Corzine’s signature before it becomes law. The New Jersey State League of Municipalities (NJSLOM) and officials in towns throughout the state joined them in opposing the bill, whose Senate version was S1303. The bill passed the Senate in late February and the Assembly in late June.

.22943 2009-09-02T09:49:00Z 2009-09-02T09:49:00Z

State environmental officials oppose wind turbines anywhere in the Delaware Bay, a position that could jeopardize an Ocean County firm's plans for a wind park there. The Department of Environmental Protection cited potential threats to migratory birds, oyster seed beds and other resources in an Aug. 20 letter to Delsea Energy, of Toms River. Scott Brubaker, the DEP's assistant commissioner for land use management, wrote "the Delaware Bay is not an appropriate area for development of wind energy."

.23346 2009-09-01T00:00:00Z 2009-09-01T00:00:00Z

As offshore wind farms in the U.S. move closer to becoming a reality, there are still questions about the potential environmental impacts and best sites for in-the-water wind turbines. Coastal resource managers in New Jersey are getting in front of this burgeoning business by conducting an environmental baseline study that will help guide wind farm development off that state's coastline.