Will NJ have enough power to keep the lights on?

South Jersey could lose more than 1,000 megawatts of power generation in coming years, with the Oyster Creek Generating Station in Ocean County shutting down in 2019 and the fate of the B.L. England Generating Station in Cape May County unclear.


**Like what you’re reading? Click here to get free blog updates**  

But Braden Campbell of the Press of Atlantic City reports that the Garden State has more than 2,000 megawatts in new generation set to hit the grid.

"The natural gas-powered West Deptford Energy Station in Gloucester County will add more than 700 megawatts of generation potential when it’s completed later this year, and another natural gas plant being built in Woodbridge, Middlesex County, is slated to generate 700 megawatts in 2015. The Newark Energy Center will generate 655 megawatts starting in mid-2015."



Will NJ have enough power to keep the lights on? Read More »

Plan calls for $10B artificial islands to protect NJ coast

The federal government was looking for bold new thinking about ways to protect the coasts of New Jersey and New York from  storms like Sandy.  And they got one. But at a cost in the billions, will it float?
 
Construction of a string of artificial islands off the coast of New Jersey and New York could blunt the impact of storm surges that proved so deadly during Hurricane Sandy, according to a proposal vying for attention and funding, the Associated Press reports.

The proposal would cost $10 billion to $12 billion but it’s also the kind of innovative idea that federal officials requested as they consider how best to protect the heavily populated region from future storms.

"We’ve discussed this with the governor’s office of Recovery and Resiliency and the Department of Environmental Protection, and they all look at me like, ‘Whoa! This is a big deal!" said Alan Blumberg, a professor at New Jersey’s Stevens Institute of Technology. "Yes, it is a big deal. It can save lives and protect property."

The "Blue Dunes" proposal is part of Rebuild By Design, a competition sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to come up with novel ways to protect against the next big storm. It is one of 10 projects that will be evaluated and voted on next week, but there’s no guarantee any of them will receive funding. Other ideas include building sea walls around cities, re-establishing oyster colonies in tidal flats to blunt wave action and creating water-absorbent nature and recreational preserves.

 

Plan calls for $10B artificial islands to protect NJ coast Read More »

New Jersey legislation seeks to plug holes in solar roofs

Many commercial building owners are eager to install solar panels but fear that doing so would violate their roof warranties, according to two New Jersey state senators.

To alleviate that concern, Senate Environment and Energy Committee Chairman Bob Smith (D-Middlesex) and committee member Chip Bateman (R-Somerset) have introduced S-564,
a bill that tap $2 million in energy rate payment surcharges to create an alternative warranty program.

The legislation would cover up to $50,000 in damages suffered by a building owner as a result of adding a rooftop solar system. 

The bill was released from the committee on March 27 and is now in position for a floor vote, Listen to Senator Smith explain his reason for sponsoring the solar roof warranty bill.

Related environmental news stories:
8 Ways to Make Solar Installations Faster, Safer and Cheaper …
Putting Up Reliable Solar Mounting Systems – CleanTechnica
Ensuring a Successful Solar Roof Install – The Solar Spot |
Rooftop solar winning battles with utilities – Clean Energy Authority
Solar advocates worry about Oklahoma legislation for surcharge

***Like what you’re reading? Click here to get free blog updates***    

Recent posts:
Port Authority Chairman David Samson resigns
Shell closer to decision on ethane cracker plant in Pa
In New Jersey, playing that ole RGGI song once more   
McGinty has the green credentials to be Pa governor 
EPA chief paving a rocky road toward new climate rules 

New Jersey legislation seeks to plug holes in solar roofs Read More »

Port Authority Chairman David Samson resigns

 
David Samson and Gov. Chris Christie – File Photo

David Samson, chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, has resigned, effective immediately, NJ Gov. Chris Christie announced during a press conference today.

Here’s the latest (Updated at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 29):
Chris Christie announces resignation of Port Authority chair David Samson – Washington Post (blog) http://news.google.com Sat, 29 Mar 2014 11:05:27 GMT
ABC News Chris Christie announces resignation of Port Authority chair David Samson Washington Post (blog) New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) announced Friday that David Samson, chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, had resigned earl …
Read more …

Port Authority Chairman Samson quits in Bridgegate fallout – New York Post http://news.google.com Fri, 28 Mar 2014 20:05:10 GMT
Port Authority Chairman Samson quits in Bridgegate fallout New York Post Port Authority Chairman David Samson — who notoriously brushed off the George Washington Bridge lane closings as a mere “inconvenience” — resigned on Friday, New Jersey Gov. Chris …
Read more …

Chris Christie announces the resignation of Port Authority chairman David Samson – The Week Magazine http://news.google.com Sat, 29 Mar 2014 04:39:09 GMT
Chris Christie announces the resignation of Port Authority chairman David Samson T he Week Magazine New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) on Friday announced the resignation of David Samson, the chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Read more …

Port Authority chairman David Samson resigns – Wall Street Journal
http://news.google.com Fri, 28 Mar 2014 22:21:57 GMT
Port Authority chairman David Samson resigns Wall Street Journal NEWARK, N.J. — David Samson resigned Friday as chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the latest in a series of developments to rock the agency in a lingering scandal …
Read more …

Port Authority Chairman David Samson resigns amid GWB probe – NorthJersey.com
http://news.google.com  Sat, 29 Mar 2014 03:33:20 GMT
NorthJersey.com Port Authority Chairman David Samson resigns amid GWB probe NorthJersey.com David Samson, the Port Authority chairman who resigned Friday, was not interviewed, and the document does not delve into reports that he voted on Port Authority …
Read more …
Another key Christie ally leaves his job amid scandal – CNN Political Ticker – CNN.com Blogs http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/ 15h ago  Christie announced at a news conference on Friday that David Samson, who chairs the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, had stepped down, effective immediately. Read more …
Washington Post – Christie talks to Megyn Kelly about Bridgegate and 2016 – Post Politics http://www.washingtonpost.com/ 16h ago At the earlier news conference, he announced that the Port Authority chairman, David Samson, was resigning from his position. Read more … Christie announces that David Samson resigned as Port Authority chairman
Chris Christie Says Port Authority Chairman Has Resigned 
Business Insider

***Like what you’re reading? Click here to get free blog updates***    

Recent posts: 
Shell closer to decision on ethane cracker plant in Pa
In New Jersey, playing that ole RGGI song once more  
McGinty has the green credentials to be Pa governor
EPA chief paving a rocky road toward new climate rules  

Port Authority Chairman David Samson resigns Read More »

Shell closer to decision on ethane cracker plant in Pa

Royal Dutch Shell ethane cracker plant in Singapore (Shell photo)


Although a final decision still is not official, Royal Dutch Shell continues to brief Beaver County commissioners on its progress in planning an ethane cracker plant to exploit
the rich natural gas play in Western Pennsylvania.

Shell is studying the feasibility of constructing the facility on at a soon-to-close zinc plant site in Potter Township operated by Horsehead Holdings, Inc. 

Tony Amadio, chairman of the board of the Beaver County Board of Commissioners, said he left the latest meeting with Shell officials on Thursday feeling hopeful, Justine Coyne reports in the Pittsburgh Business Times.

"They have not made an announcement, but they try to keep us up to date the best they can," Amadio said. "From what they have said they would do over the last two years, everything they said is moving forward."

***Like what you’re reading? Click here to get free blog updates***   

The company outlined plans to  move a section of Route 18, relocate power lines, undergo a large excavation project that would raise the surface of the site three feet above the Horesehead site, construct a temporary overpass to move dirt and construction materials, move the existing rail lines to be parallel with Route 18, and build a roll on roll off dock along the Ohio River, according to Amadio.

Beaver County Commissioner Joe Spanik said Shell reps said they are hoping to get the required permits needed to move forward on the Route 18 project by July. Spanik said the design work has been done, so the next step will be engineering.

Shell closer to decision on ethane cracker plant in Pa Read More »

In New Jersey, playing that ole RGGI song once more


James Marvin Phelps photo

“Once there was a silly old ram

Thought he’d punch a hole in a dam 

No one could make that ram, scram
He kept buttin that dam”

   – Frank Sinatra’s ‘High Hopes’ 
For what seems like the umpteenth time, Democratic legislators in New Jersey will try again on Thursday to butt a hole in Republican Governor Chris Christie’s veto of legislation requiring New Jersey to rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).

In May 2011, Christie unilaterally yanked the state from the 10-state compact that aims to reduce global warming greenhouse gases by placing a carbon tax on power plant emissions.

Christie declared the program to be ineffective and said it penalized businesses and other energy customers in New Jersey who already pay some of the highest energy rates in the country. 


Environmentalists kicked up their heels, claiming Christie was kowtowing to right-wing, fossil fuel interests that control which Republican candidate gets campaign funding support in future presidential campaigns.

But, as NJ Spotlight‘s Tom Johnson explains today, “legislative efforts to force New Jersey back into the program have proved fruitless, with Christie twice vetoing bills to that end.” 

Democrats hold a majority in both houses and could pass the legislation again.

Will a third time prove the charm?

Not unless you believe the one about the Ant and the Rubber Tree Plant.

The governor has never gone back on a veto and his Republican colleagues in the legislature are unlikely to offer their political opponents the necessary votes for an override.    


But you’ve got to give the enviros credit for trying.  Cue High Hopes, Mister DJ. 



In New Jersey, playing that ole RGGI song once more Read More »