CASE STUDY: Garden State Makes Great Strides to Go Green

By Edward Walters, Jr.

New Jersey sits at the top of the renewable energy field, ranking among the largest solar markets in the world. To stay in the lead, it is critical that the state continues to develop its own renewable energy sources. Since 2003, the creation of the Office of Clean Energy, along with dozens of programs including a generous solar rebate program, has proved to be an economic boon for the state. These programs are the key to the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard's goal of generating 30 percent of its electricity from solar, wind, geothermal and other renewable sources by 2020.

Indeed, a serious greenhouse problem exists, and we can not continue to burn fossil fuels and pump carbon into the atmosphere. As a result, we need to collectively cut our dependence on foreign oil and replace it with green energy sources. Federal clean energy legislation must provide the necessary incentives to entice businesses and residents to go green.

Typically, Americans are unaware of energy-generation resources available in the country. If trends continue, energy costs in New Jersey and the nation will rise whether green energy efforts are implemented or not. No one power source alone will be the answer. To meet America's future needs for energy, we need a variety of power generation sources such as wind, solar and hydropower to help lessen the need for foreign oil.

New Jersey has already made great strides to move to cleaner sources of energy such as solar power. Rather than simply offer grants, the state established a market-based solar renewable energy credit, or SREC program, making it a leading solar market.

Unfortunately, climate change skeptics insist that global warming is a hoax cooked up by liberal scientists in order to short circuit big oil companies' ability to generate huge profits. These skeptics provide fuel to those who support a do-nothing approach. Rather than debate the climate change issue, we need to work together to develop renewable energy sources to protect our state's and our planet's future.

Whether rising seas will submerge our coastline in 10 years or 100 years, the consequences will inevitably be calamitous, and New Jersey will be hit extremely hard. To solve global warming, our generation needs to stand up and convince political leaders that the threat of climate change is urgent and that changes need to be made sooner rather than later.

Now is a great time to be working in the building industry. We're seeing trends changing rapidly, reflecting the huge advances in technology. Every aspect of the building process is being thought out in a way that conserves natural resources and reduces energy consumption. With the advent of LEED created by the USGBC and NAHB's green building program, we've already seen a trend in the construction industry toward building smarter, greener homes. Smarter means using materials from renewable sources, better building techniques, and better insulation methods with higher efficiency equipment including HVAC equipment, appliances and lighting systems.

Not only is it important we use less energy and natural resources, we need to clean up the mess that others before us have left behind. Contributing to that effort, I believe the new DEP Commissioner, Bob Martin, will bring a certain pragmatism to his role at the DEP. He's already made a commitment to protecting the environment in this State by supporting the NJ Site Remediation Reform Act. He is committed to making sure it is successful.

The new law makes extensive changes to the way sites are cleaned up by establishing the licensing of professionals who will oversee environmental investigations and cleanups. There are over 20,000 contaminated sites in the state that need to be cleaned up in a timely manner. In order for that to happen, they need to be developed responsibly.

Finally, an essential element of that formula is producing the necessary revenue to pay for the cost of the clean-up. The environmentalist's stance of "Zero" growth has failed, and it is time we all stand up to these special interests groups that have essentially hijacked our state. We need to say no more to the status quo as we begin to clean up New Jersey in a way that benefits everyone. It is time to move forward responsibly and profitably so we can enhance and enrich the lives of all the residents on New Jersey.

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