Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar hosted a meeting with Governors and representatives of Atlantic Coast states to discuss a regional approach to wind energy development on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) on Friday. In attendance were Governor John Baldacci (Maine), Governor Donald L. Carcieri (Rhode Island), Governor Jack Markell (Delaware), Governor Bob McDonnell (Virginia), Governor Martin O'Malley (Maryland) and Governor Deval Patrick (Massachusetts) joined via phone.
Here are highlights from a press conference after the meeting:This seems like it a pretty important gathering with Governors from both sides of the aisle and those who couldn't attend were able to call in via phone. So where was our Governor?
Are we not looking to take a regional approach to development of wind energy? It's not like we have a coastline and water to work with. Maybe he sent a representative and no article chose to mention it (I checked 3), but wouldn't you think our Governor would seek out these opportunities for development, especially when they're dropped in his lap? And after all the talking he's done about getting rid of regulations, he skips a meeting on streamlining energy development? Lets hope his lack of attendance isn't an indication of his commitment to renewable energy.
I had the honor, privilege and good fortune of seeing then-Senator Obama speak in Hoboken, on November 2, 2006, at a campaign event for Senator Menendez. Afterwards I called my father and said "I think I just saw the next President of the United States." Two years later, November, 4, 2008, he and the American voters proved me right; I attended a victory party for President Obama, Senator Lautenberg, for "Change we can believe in," for the American people, and for, I think, the world.
I felt like that watching the State of the Union; less euphoric, more focused and disciplined.
Among the grant recipients were Atlantic City Electric Co.; First Energy Service Co., the parent company of Jersey Central Power & Light; Consolidated Edison, of New York, an affiliate company of Rockland Electric; and PJM Interconnection LLC, the regional transmission organization serving New Jersey and parts of 12 other states and the District of Columbia.
"I want to thank President [Barack] Obama and Energy Secretary [Steven] Chu for today's grant awards, which take us one step closer to New Jersey's clean energy future," said Gov. Jon S. Corzine. "The projects they fund will improve reliability and efficiency for New Jersey's electricity customers while creating jobs."
"Smart Grid projects reduce energy bills and will help grow New Jersey's renewable energy generation," said state Board of Public Utilities President Jeanne M. Fox. "In addition, these projects will help us meet the goals of Governor Corzine's comprehensive energy master plan."
Altogether, the President announced $3.4 billion in power transmission spending. They said that doesn't include the $4.7 billion in private capital being including, so it's over an $8 billion investment. Here are some comments from White House Economic Advisor Jared Bernstein had to say about the smart grid investments:
New Jersey utility regulators approved the largest reduction in natural gas prices in state history Wednesday.
The state Board of Public Utilities voted unanimously to share the savings from lower wholesale rates with retail consumers. The lower prices are effective immediately and are expected save the typical household $262 to $477 a year -- a reduction of 23 percent to 37 percent.
It's a pretty significant cut that people should notice in their wallet:
A typical New Jersey home that uses 1,000 therms of natural gas -- a standard measure of heat -- paid between $1,671 and $1,743 last year.
PSE&G, the state's largest utility, will charge 89 cents a therm as a result of Wednesday's vote, compared with $1.19 in October. That translates into a $262 annual savings for a typical home.
South Jersey Gas Co. customers are expected to save $325.
"This is the biggest rate reduction for natural gas in New Jersey history," said Jerry May, director of the Division of Energy at the state Board of Public Utilities.
If things stay the way they are, we can expect a cut in electricity rates for next year because of the lower cost for utilities to generate the electricity.
About 80 citizens, a handful of local officials, and two state legislators came out to discuss environmental issues with Gubernatorial candidates (or their representatives) last night in Westfield, in a forum sponsored by Environment NJ, the Highlands Coalition, and Clean Ocean Action.
There were no corporate flacks or lobbyists in sight. No one shouted or called anyone a Nazi. Citizens passionately but rationally asked informed and important questions. The candidates didn't attack each other, pander or appeal to hate or fear, but instead discussed their ideas about public policy.
Given the political context and the in the gutter conduct of the Gubernatorial campaign thus far, the event was a huge success. Thank you Environment NJ for taking the high road, not doing the traditional shallow endorsement rag, and instead forcing the candidates to discuss issues and to be accountable to voters.
Let's see if the press can follow your lead, rise to the occasion, and focus on the issues instead of the horse race.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has approved the construction of three out of 59 vital sewer system and drinking water infrastructure projects for the tri-county area made possible by the state's $840 million package of federal and state aid.
The first so far approved is Mount Laurel's Municipal Utility Authority, which is ready to initiate the bidding process on an estimated $5.3-million project that will put solar panels on the township's main wastewater pumping station and drinking water well off Ramblewood Parkway.
Because the project will be bonded with federal stimulus money, half the loan doesn't need to be repaid. The other half, borrowed at a low-market rate of 1.2 percent over 20 years (the most recent quote) through the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust, means that the loan will virtually pay for itself in terms of energy savings over the course of the next eight years.
An additional $300,000 a year in RECs (renewable energy credits), sold to electricity supplier Public Service Enterprise Group to meet its state-mandated renewable portfolio standard (RPS) of 22.5 percent by 2021 (2.12 percent of that strictly from solar), will be the icing on the cake.
Here's how it will work and how much they will save:
Power for the wastewater treatment station, which handles 20 percent of the municipality's wastewater, and the well - which provides about 15 percent of the drinking water - will be provided via a system of ground mounted solar panels delivering 529 kilowatts whose installation will save the community about $90,000 in electricity costs.
According to Mount Laurel's Municipal Utility Authority (MUA) Executive Director Pam Carolan, the use of the solar panels to provide electricity means that, over a year, the amount of electricity purchased from Public Service Electric and Gas (PSE&G) will be zero.
And it's not just one town that is working to move in the direction of using more renewable energy for their services:
The project is only one of many in the works, as other municipalities and towns like Camden, Camden County, Deptford and Bordentown City consider their own sewer system and drinking water projects for solar upgrades's recent initiative to install solar power units on 200,000 utility poles in PSE&G's service territory, which includes New Jersey's six largest cities and roughly 300 rural and suburban communities - a project being billed as the largest pole-attached solar installation in the world - and you have a major case of greening that extends beyond the state's reputation for truck farms delivering produce to Pennsylvania to the west and New York to the north.
Most of the efforts so far are in California, New Jersey and Connecticut, states that offer generous incentives. Executives say they would like to convert many more. How quickly they can do so depends on government policy because retailers rely on tax incentives to offset the cost.
I'm sure that Governor Corzine and his policies had nothing to do with any of this development and increase in the use of solar energy. That's probably why we haven't seen releases praising these developments, merely statements that criticizing other areas. There's always more to do, but it's not like we're not doing anything in this state as people are being led to believe.
There has been plenty of lobbying over the climate change legislation moving through the Congress, but not all of it is above board and legitimate apparently. Congressman Pallone joined Rachel Maddow to discuss forged letters that members of Congress have received from a coal front group that apparently stole letterhead form constituent groups and submitted them as supposed legitimate letters from constituents. The Congressman thinks the forged letters to members of Congress are a form of fraud that should be investigated by law enforcement. Pallone also talked about why Mountaintop mining, which the coal industry is pushing, is a disaster in his mind:In his closing, Pallone said he doesn't know what form the bill will take, but that he believes Cap and Trade will pass the Senate. It will be taken up in September and October.
NJN devoted their first three segments of the news program last night to the energy debate in the Governor's race. Here is the video and then I'll discuss some of the highlights after:The first segment had Michael Aron covering Chris Christie's energy event. At the end of the segment, they showed Christie's SUV driving away from the event and said that he refused to take questions, what a surprise. Aron even noted that it's strange to see a candidate roll out a major policy plan and not be willing to talk about it. They interviewed the Solar trade association chief who said he thinks they need to hear something stronger than what they have heard.
The second segment covered Governor Corzine's energy event. Corzine said Christie's attacks are ridiculous. He said that NJ is installing and producing solar panels at a rate that is only surpassed by California, who is 5 times as big. Talking about Christie's attacks, the Governor called them:
A political massage of something that doesn't relate to the facts.
The third segment brought in the director of Sales and marketing for Sun Farm Network, Pam Frank. While she said she didn't want to take sides in the argument between Christie and Corzine, she says that NJ has been an undisputed leader in the clean energy agenda. She says in the last decade we've laid the foundation for what will be phenomenal growth in NJ. She talked about the potential for job creation in the industry, past what Christie argues in his plans. She wouldn't get into the differing statistics the campaigns are using, but said that NJ has done phenomenal work to lay a unique policy framework, really what she thinks is the only competitive market framework in the world for Solar energy.
So while Christie continues to complain, people in the industry and even Christie's own campaign co-chairs acknowledge that people are trying to model themselves after what New Jersey has already been doing.
Chris Christie released his energy plan yesterday and while we will certainly have time to look at the specifics, I wanted to point out a fundamental disagreement that Republican members of Congress and co-chairs of his own campaign have with the party standard bearer in NJ.
In announcing his plan, Christie tried to attack Corzine saying he hadn't done enough, while also trying to hook himself to the Obama train. But statements by Republican members of Congress, in justifying their support for the Energy legislation, stood in square opposition to the argument that Corzine hasn't helped New jersey lead the way. First Leonard Lance:
"The fact of the matter is New Jersey and the Northeast are well ahead of the curve on many of the key elements of the legislation before the House.
"Here at home, the state of New Jersey is already subject to limits on greenhouse gas emissions from power plants under the ten-state Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. And our state renewable portfolio standard is more aggressive than the federal program contained in the bill.
"New Jersey serves as a national model for its investments in new, clean energy technologies that have reduced greenhouse gas emissions and created thousands of jobs. I heard from a number of New Jersey's leading businesses that firmly believe today's legislation would strengthen our state economy through innovative and sustainable job creation. It is time for other states to follow New Jersey's leadership and do their share to set limits on greenhouse gas emissions and accelerate development of low-carbon energy sources and green jobs."
Follow New Jersey's leadership he says. Maybe Lance needs to talk to Christie and bring him up to speed. Joining them in that conversation could be Congressman Frank LoBiondo, who also recognizes New Jersey's role, under the leadership of Governor Corzine in leading the way:
"This is by no means a perfect bill but, for New Jersey businesses and families, many of the federal standards that will be created are mirroring state standards long on the books. For the past decade, New Jersey has been forward-looking in its energy policy and sought to establish diverse, renewable alternative sources of energy to meet the state's needs. From the development of biofuels based on crop waste and planning for additional nuclear reactors, to building small and large-scale wind farms and countless solar panel projects, individuals and municipalities recognized opportunities and took action.
"In the process, new local businesses were founded and jobs were created in the emerging 'green industry' here in New Jersey. What must happen next is the growth of domestic manufacturing of the materials needed for alternative energy production, such as solar cells, wind turbines and environmentally-friendly buildings. This legislation rightly focuses on growing that manufacturing base, creating green jobs and finally establishing our energy independence. The positive effects will be felt nationally and here in South Jersey. These are objectives I have long believed and advocated for as part of a national energy policy."
And four of those ten years were under the leadership of Governor Corzine, who Chris Christie is criticizing. So Chris Christie supports the federal efforts by President Obama, which members of his own party say were modeled after the efforts of our state, under the leadership of the person he is criticizing in the process. This must be more Christie logic.
On the heels of Chris Christie putting out a video talking about his plans for energy, the Corzine campaign is out with a web ad showing some more contradictions for Christie. As the Corzine campaign puts it, he'll say anything and you can't believe any of it. Let's go to the video:
I'm pretty happy Frank LoBiondo joined Chris Smith and Leonard Lance in voting for energy independence and fighting climate change. Conservatives are not. It's too late to be a Quote of a Day, but I still like how LoBiondo's spokesperson told conservatives to STFU:
"Now we're getting flooded with emails and calls, but those are coming from outside of New Jersey," he said. "If people in Texas are pissed and angry at his vote, then they're angry about his vote. I don't think they even knew who Frank LoBiondo was before this."
U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar on Tuesday awarded five leases to four companies who want to develop windmills along the Outer Continental Shelf. The leases allow the companies to build meteorological towers to gather information about the wind six to 18 miles offshore.
[snip]
The exploratory leases, the first of their kind ever issued by the federal government, went to Bluewater Wind New Jersey Energy; Fishermen's Energy of New Jersey; Deepwater Wind, which is doing two projects; and Bluewater Wind Delaware.
"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," Gov. Jon Corzine said.
And Jeff Tittel didn't miss the opportuinty to deliver a one liner:
"We see this as a positive change from the Bush administration's energy plan," said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. "We are moving from drill baby, drill, to wind baby, wind."
Here's video from the press conference announcing the leases:The article says they hope to have the first meteorological tower up and running off the coast next summer. We may want to get Secretary Salazar a place to stay with all his visits to the state.
Yesterday, Senator Menendez against the energy bill in the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. The Senator said the bill doesn't go far enough and pointed to specific issues he has:
Setting a weak renewable energy standard of only 15 percent by the year 2021 ? a number that in reality could be closer to nine percent according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, because one quarter can be met with efficiency, many utilities are exempt, and the definitions of "renewable" have been stretched. That would amount to less than business as usual on renewable energy generation. President Obama had called for a standard of 25 percent by 2025. This standard represents the percentage of energy generated by utilities that must come from renewable sources.
Allowing expanded coastline drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico and setting a short buffer zone of only 45 miles from the coast. Oil companies already control 68 million acres that they are not using. In addition, the short buffer zone could set a risky precedent for states like New Jersey, which could be affected by coastline drilling off of nearby states.
Electricity transmission provisions that encourage the continued production of coal-generated power and threaten to cite power lines on personal property in New Jersey. These provisions failed to require that a substantial portion of the electricity transmitted on new lines come from renewable sources.
The Senator had this to say about the measure:
"I also have strong concerns about this bill's potential effects on families in New Jersey. It lays the groundwork for unwanted power lines running through personal property in our state and it sets a precedent that could bring oil rigs close to the Jersey Shore. I am standing up in strong opposition to those provisions."
Environment New Jersey criticized the energy bill and applauded the Senator for his opposition:
The proposal risks sensitive coastal ecosystems to pollution and spills from off-shore drilling, while worsening global warming by opening the door to high-carbon fuels such as liquid coal, tar sands and oil shale, according to Environment New Jersey.
"The Senate energy bill misses an unprecedented opportunity to repower America with clean energy and reduce global warming pollution while putting millions of Americans back to work," said Doug O'Malley, field director for Environment New Jersey. "We oppose the bill in its current form because it threatens Florida's white sandy beaches and encourages dirty fuels while doing little to realize the promise of a clean energy future," he concluded.
[snip]
"Sen. Menendez has been a tremendous advocate for clean energy and our coastlines time and again," O?Malley said. "His vote opposing this bill reaffirms that he is willing to stand up for the environment and New Jersey."
The Senator said he looks forward to working closely with chairman to improve the bill on the Senate floor, so we will have to see how the bill is modified as it moves forward.
This past Friday morning, Former NJ Governor and EPA Administrator Christie Whitman joined the Morning Joe crew for a discussion about Nuclear Energy and whether to build or not to build. They got the disclaimer that she is a lobbyist working with the Nuclear Industry and gets paid for the work right up front, but then had a discussion about the history and future of nuclear energy as a power source. Then they went on to talk about some of the potential benefits and drawbacks of nuclear power:I don't think there is going to be one solution that solves our energy problem and that nuclear should be considered as a possible piece of the puzzle. Obviously the up front costs and time to build are prohibitive, but it seems like we will encounter those problems with many forms of new energy. What are your opinions on nuclear energy and do you think it should be a part of our country's long term plan.
The Department of the Interior is holding the only East Coast public meeting and hearing on plans for offshore drilling Monday in daylong sessions at the Atlantic City Convention Center, and interest groups are mobilizing their members to show up and speak up.
Interior Secretary Kenneth Salazar will present findings from the newest federal Minerals Management Service on the status of energy sources on the continental shelf, including wind and tidal generation and oil and natural gas exploration. New Jersey ocean environment groups and held their own event in Atlantic City Wednesday to call attention to the Monday meeting and urge the public to turn out.
Findings from the public meetings could shape a final decision by the Obama administration on whether to grant five-year leases on the outer continental shelf to energy companies.
There was bi-partisan representation at the Wednesday event:
"We don't want oil rigs along the coast and we can't accept the risk of oil spills in the ocean tides or on our beaches," said Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J., who was there with Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-N.J. and Sens. Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez, both D?N.J.
A 5-Year Program consists of a schedule of oil and gas lease sales indicating the size, timing and location of proposed leasing activity the Secretary determines will best meet national energy needs for the five year period following its approval. An area must be included in the current 5-Year Program in order to be offered for leasing. Section 18 (132.38 KB PDF) of the OCS Lands Act (286.05 KB PDF) prescribes the major steps (17.68 KB PDF) involved in developing a 5-Year Program including extensive public comment steps. A 5-Year Program balances energy needs and environmental considerations.
At a recent meeting, Salazar said the report on Outer Continental Shelf energy resources found huge information gaps about the location and extent of offshore oil and gas resources.
"Along the Atlantic Coast, for example, the seismic data we have is twenty-five years old," he said. "How should we gather the information we currently lack about our offshore oil and gas resources? How do we manage the costs of gathering seismic data? Are there areas on the OCS that should be of priority for information collection?"
Can you guess from those questions how the Obama Administration hopes to frame the "discussion" that proceeds from the meeting in Atlantic City and other cities?
I'm not sure but, if I were an executive at ExxonMobil, I think I'd be a bit concerned.
It's interesting to see that Rob Andrews is working as a whip to help Michigan Congressman John Dingell remain as chair of the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee. He's being challenged by liberal Henry Waxman because Dingell is generally viewed as working to water down fuel economy standards and broader global warming legislation, though he publicly supports some legislation on global warming.
I can respect all the votes on H.R. 6899, the Comprehensive American Energy Security and Consumer Protection Act, a bill passed last night in the House mainly by Democrats. It funds renewable energy but also allows limited offshore oil drilling. New Jersey Republicans Frank LoBiondo and Chris Smith (and 13 other Republicans) joined Rob Andrews, Albio Sires and 219 other Democrats to pass the bill, while Democrats Rush Holt, Frank Pallone, Bill Pascrell, Steve Rothman and Donald Payne (and 8 other Democrats) joined Saxton, Garrett, Frelinghuysen, Ferguson and 172 other Republicans in opposing it. People of good will can disagree on whether it's best to accept or reject this compromise.
I feel like the current energy debate gets us no where productive slowly. Now we're talking about who's fault it is that there's no comprehensive energy policy. The true fault probably lies with everyone involved, but rather than complaining about what hasn't been done, maybe we should examine some of the successes that could help the NJ energy and economic situation.
He calls it hypocrisy and if anyone should know something about the word, Chris Myers is an expert. Today we have Myers attacking the "summer vacation" Democrats are taking:
Make no mistake, both Republicans and Democrats have failed to properly address this issue for the last 30 years, and both share the blame for our current energy crisis," said Myers. "But the Democrats are in control of Congress right now, and their decision to recess for summer vacation without passing real energy reform is inexcusable with so many families struggling to afford a summer vacation themselves
I want something to be done as much as the next person, but while Myers is identifying political stunts, perhaps he should focus his attention on the one the GOP is putting on in the House right now. The one that GOP Leader John Boehner is missing because wait for it, he's playing golf and raising money on summer vacation:
While House Republicans have been taking turns making speeches before a darkened and empty floor since last Friday, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) has been playing golf, according to the Washington Post.
The Republican leader has been absent since the GOP protest began when Congress adjourned for the summer recess last week. He might join colleagues on Friday.
Boehner spent some time at the Wetherington Golf & Country Club in West Chester, Ohio this week, the Post said, citing scores posted online by Boehner himself. He also participated in a golf tournament held in Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio to raise funds for his political action committee, Freedom Project.
Asked about the golf games, Boehner spokesman Michael Steel told the Post the game in West Chester was most likely held "over the weekend," and that canceling the Muirfield tournament "would have cost tens of thousands of dollars for Republican candidates across the country."
Maybe Myers won't accept any money from Boehner since he was raising it on vacation rather than "taking part in a political stunt" in Congress. On second thought, he probably wouldn't see those funds anyway. I'm assuming he'll just try to gloss over this latest lack of consistency, just like he has for the rest of his campaign.
Senator Bob Menendez continues to fight off-shore oil drilling:
"If there ever was evidence that Big Oil doesn't need any more federal handouts, the parade of astronomical oil company profit reports that began today is it. On one extreme you have American families getting absolutely slammed by gas prices. On the other extreme you have the oil companies counting their money, sitting on 68 million unused acres and asking for even more land to put on their books. There is no way to justify giving yet another handout to these companies, especially when they are focusing far more on stock buybacks than the type of exploration and innovation that will help lower energy costs for American families.
"The oil men in the White House and their party are trying to pull a fast one on the American people by selling a plan that has a lot more to do with oil company stock prices than gas prices. For far too long, our government has held the oil companies' hands rather than holding them accountable. American families are getting squeezed, and they deserve a government that works for them, not for Big Oil."
"In 2005, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita caused devastation on a massive scale. The Environmental Protection Agency, the US Minerals Management Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Coast Guard all agree that the storms caused 700,000 gallons of oil to spill into the Gulf of Mexico and over 7 million gallons of oil to leak onshore from the infrastructure that supports offshore drilling....
"An oil spill off the coast of Virginia could wash up as far away as Maine. It could devastate the coastline from South Carolina to New York. New Jersey families and businesses can't afford the risk of a disaster on the scale of the Exxon Valdez crash or the spills after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, with sticky crude washing up on our beaches, killing our wildlife, collapsing property values and destroying our economy in the process.
Fate seems to be taking a hand here as well. Senator John McCain planned to literally campaign on a Lousiana oil rig later this week.
