NJ Gov. and lawmakers diverting more Clean Energy funds


New Jersey’s clean energy fund is being tapped once again by legislators — this time to provide $20 million for maintenance and salaries for the state’s park system, NJ Spotlight’s Tom Johnson reports. 
The proposed diversion from the often-raided Clean Energy Fund presumably would retain $20 million for a new open-space preservation program instead of being used to finance parks management as the Christie administration proposed in its spending plan for next year.

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Gov. Christie’s proposed budget

Gov. Chris Christie’s proposed budget already is counting on using approximately $152 million from the Clean Energy Fund to finance various energy initiatives and to pay utility bills at state facilities, including NJ Transit.
The persistent withdrawal of money from the Clean Energy Fund by lawmakers and the administration is a source of frustration for clean-energy advocates. More than $1 billion in clean-energy funds has been used to help balance budgets in the past several years. The fund is replenished by surcharges on gas and electric bills for residents and businesses.


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NY Energy Planning Board reschedules public meeting

 

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NY Energy Planning Board reschedules public meeting

A meeting of the New York State Energy Planning Board
was unexpectedly cancelled on June 15 due to “scheduling issues,” according
to spokeswoman Kate Muller, just three hours before the board was
expected to meet with environmental groups hoping to comment on the
state’s draft energy plan before it is finalized.

According to the Legislative Gazette, the New York
State Energy Plan establishes the foundation for future energy policies,
investments in energy infrastructure and guides decisions that will
impact how New York will meet its future energy needs. 


Last year, the
2014 Draft State Energy Plan was criticized by some environmental groups
for its vague goals, lack of renewable targets, promotion of natural
gas, and failure to address severe weather phenomenon.


The board is now scheduled to meet on Thursday, June 25.

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New Jersey refiner PBF Energy buying refinery in Louisiana












A New Jersey energy company will buy the Chalmette oil refinery in Louisiana for $322 million from ExxonMobil and its partner, the state-owned Petroleos de Venezuela,
Jennifer Larino reports in the Times-Picayune. 

PBF Energy Inc., based in Parsippany, N.J., and one of the largest independent oil refiners in North America, has agreed to purchase the 189,000-barrel-per-day refinery as well as interests in chemical facilities, pipelines and other assets at the site.

A statement released by PBF Energy did not detail how the purchase would impact the refinery’s workforce, though it appears leadership intends to extend job offers to many current employees.

“We are committed to the continued safe and environmentally responsible operations of the facility and look forward to welcoming Chalmette’s well-trained and professional workforce to the PBF family,” CEO Tom Nimbley said.

About 530 ExxonMobil employees and 500 contractors work at the refinery, according to figures provided by ExxonMobil.

PBF spokesman Michael Karlovich said the company intends to extend offers to all ExxonMobil employees. He said PBF would review the level of contract work needed to support safe operations at the facility.

The sale comes as Venezuela’s government seeks ways to cover growing debt as low oil prices erode state revenues and a recession looms.
ExxonMobil and Petroleos de Venezuela each own a 50 percent stake in the refinery.

Chalmette Refining, built in 1915 on the site of a former plantation, is one of the largest employers in St. Bernard Parish. ExxonMobil operates the plant, though about a third of the oil refined there is produced in Venezuela.

The deal is PBF Energy’s first refinery purchase on the Gulf Coast, expanding its refining capacity by 35 percent to more than 725,000 barrels per day.
PBR Energy operates refineries in Delaware, New Jersey and Ohio.

If regulators approve the deal, the new owners are expected to take over the Chalmette refinery later this year.

PBF Energy currently operates three refineries in Paulsboro, New Jersey, Delaware City, Delaware and Toledo, Ohio. Two members of its management,CEO Thomas J. Nimbley and Senior Vice President of Refining Herman Seedorf were part of the ConocoPhillips team that from 1993 to 2001 managed the Bayway Refinery in Linden, NJ  

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NJ’s PSEG Makes Power Play in Maryland’s Energy Market


PSEG Power is expanding its base into Maryland, NJ Spotlight reports.
The Newark subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group announced that it has acquired a 755-megawatt natural-gas-fired project in Prince George County from Genesis Power LLC and Ares EIF Management, an energy-focused private equity fund.
PSEG Power will invest between $825 million and $875 million in the project, which is expected to begin construction sometime this year and to start supplying capacity to the regional power grid in 2018.

Full story: New Jersey’s PSEG Power Makes Power Play in Maryland’s Energy Market 

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Peek inside Amazon’s super efficient NJ fulfillment center

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Peek inside Amazon’s super efficient NJ fulfillment center

What happens after you click “buy” on your Amazon purchase?


NJTV News Correspondent Briana Vannozzi provides the answer — 14 miles of conveyer belts that help sort and package products with the help of a part-robot part-human team, at Amazon’s fulfillment center in Robbinsville, NJ which has been operating for almost a year.
“Our systems know exactly which item to pick and how quickly to get it to you. And that’s what we do next. We travel on our over 14 miles of conveyers up to our pack stations and then our packages are all sorted by customer by ship destination out to you,” said Amazon Director of Operations in Robbinsville Tim Hall.
The 1.2 million square foot center in Robbinsville is a maze of brightly colored sorting buckets and shelves. More than 2,500 employees have been hired since it unofficially opened last July.
“The goals are actually above where we believed we would be at this point,” Hall said.

It’s called an eighth generation facility, because of the advanced technology. Bright orange robots — Amazon officials refer to them as “NFL linemen” — lift up to 750 pounds. “They make our associates more efficient. They actually do the walking for our associates. They bring the shelves to them, take the shelves away. Our associates love interacting with them,” Hall said.
Jobs for urban youth

“We wanted to get young men and women from inner city of Trenton and give them an easier opportunity to come out here and get jobs, which they have. They can take one bus from the city of Trenton. We have a dedicated ZLine that comes right out here to the corporate center, which is free, and they can just hop on and hop off,” said Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes.

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Environment-related nominations before NJ Senate panel


The New Jersey Senate Judiciary Committee will meet at noon on Monday, June 22, 
in Room 4 of the State House Annex in Trenton to consider the following nominations to environment-related advisory boards and commissions.
Jorge H. Berkowitz, Delaware Township, to be a member of the Site Remediation Professional Licensing Board to succeed himself

Stephen R. Blankenship, Williamstown, to be a member of the Water Supply Advisory Council to replace Stephen J. Gallo, resigned

Philip I. Brilliant, Toms River, to be a member of the Site Remediation Professional Licensing Board for the term prescribed by law.

Phillip Brodhecker, Hampton Township, to be a member of the Fish and Game Council to succeed himself

Peter DeCenzo, Red Bank, to be a member of the Advisory Council on Solid Waste Management to replace John J. Pislor

Wayne D. DeFeo, Warren Township, to be a member of the Advisory Council on Solid Waste Management to replace Dennis M. Toft, Esq.

Thomas P. Di Chiara, Bedminster, to be a member of the State Board of Professional Planners to replace Perry Schwartz, Ph.D., P.P., resigned, for the term prescribed by law

Lawra J. Dodge, Readington Township, to be a member of the Site Remediation Professional Licensing Board to succeed herself

Joseph R. Fallon, Plainsboro, to be a member of the Site Remediation Professional Licensing Board to replace Richard T. Dewling, Ph.D.
Kenneth Paul Nelson, Wantage, to be a member of the State Board of Professional Planners to replace Daniel C. McSweeney, P.P., resigned

Nancy E. Shafer-Winter, Asbury Park, to be a member of the Advisory Council on Solid Waste Management to replace Mary E. Marchetta, resigned

Kathleen F. Stetser, East Greenwich Township, to be a member of the Site Remediation Professional Licensing Board to replace Philip I. Brilliant, CHMM, LSRP

Peter F. Strom, Highland Park, to be a member of the Site Remediation Professional Licensing Board for the term prescribed by law.

Constantine Tsentas, Flemington, to be a member of the Site Remediation Professional Licensing Board to succeed himself
Ira L. Whitman, East Brunswick, to be a member of the Site Remediation Professional Licensing Board to succeed himself

Michael B. Lavery, Hackettstown, to be a member of the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission to replace the Honorable William Hodas, retired

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