NJ Senate to vote on energy, environment bills-10/22/15

The New Jersey Senate has scheduled a voting session for Thursday, Oct 22, in Trenton.
On the agenda are the following eight energy and environment bills.


A-3849  DeAngelo, W.P. (D-14); Eustace, T. (D-38);
Mazzeo, V. (D-2);
Pintor Marin, E. (D-29); Benson, D.R. (D-14)
Requires BPU to provide links to pricing information to
customers from electric and gas public utilities, and third-party electric
power and gas suppliers.
Related Bill: S-2466
     Oct 16, 2014  – Proposed for Assembly
introduction
     Oct 23, 2014  – Introduced in Assembly
     Oct 23, 2014  – Referred: Assembly
Telecommunications and Utilities
     Dec 4, 2014    – Reported with Assembly committee amendments
     Dec 4, 2014    – 2nd reading in Assembly
     Jan 29, 2015   – Assembly amendment (voice
vote) (voice vote) (DeAngelo)
     Jan 29, 2015   – 2nd reading in Assembly
     Mar 9, 2015   – Assembly amendment (voice vote) (voice vote) (DeAngelo)
     Mar 9, 2015   – 2nd reading in Assembly
     May 14, 2015 – Passed by the Assembly (70-0)
     May 18, 2015 – Received by the Senate
     May 18, 2015 – Referred: Senate Environment
and Energy
     Sep 21, 2015  – Posted: Senate Environment
and Energy
     Sep 24, 2015  – Reported with Senate
committee amendments
     Sep 24, 2015  – 2nd reading in Senate
     Oct 22, 2015  – Posted: Senate
A-3851  DeAngelo, W.P. (D-14); Eustace, T. (D-38);
Mazzeo, V. (D-2);
Pintor Marin, E. (D-29); Benson, D.R. (D-14)
Imposes contract standards between customers and
third-party electric power and gas suppliers.
Related Bill: S-2468
     Oct 16, 2014  – Proposed for Assembly
introduction
     Oct 23, 2014  – Introduced in Assembly
     Oct 23, 2014  – Referred: Assembly
Telecommunications and Utilities
     Dec 4, 2014    – Reported with Assembly committee amendments
     Dec 4, 2014    – 2nd reading in Assembly
     Jan 29, 2015   – Assembly amendment (voice
vote) (voice vote) (DeAngelo)
     Jan 29, 2015   – 2nd reading in Assembly
     Mar 9, 2015   – Assembly amendment (voice vote) (voice vote)
(DeAngelo)
     Mar 9, 2015   – 2nd reading in Assembly
     May 14, 2015 – Passed by the Assembly (72-0)
     May 18, 2015 – Received by the Senate
     May 18, 2015 – Referred: Senate Environment
and Energy
     Sep 21, 2015  – Reported by committee
(wo/quorum)
     Sep 24, 2015  – Reported by committee
     Sep 24, 2015  – 2nd reading in Senate
     Oct 22, 2015  – Posted: Senate
A-4307  McKeon, J.F. (D-27); Quijano, A. (D-20);
Schaer, G.S. (D-36)
Increases required public notice from 30 days to 60
days for settlements entered into by DEP pursuant to Spill Compensation and
Control Act.
Related Bill: S-2919
     Mar 16, 2015 – Introduced in Assembly
     Mar 16, 2015 – Referred: Assembly Judiciary
     Mar 19, 2015 – Reported by committee
     Mar 19, 2015 – 2nd reading in Assembly
     Mar 26, 2015 – Passed by the Assembly (70-3)
     May 7, 2015   – Received by the Senate
     May 7, 2015   – Referred: Senate Environment and Energy
     Jun 8, 2015    – Reported by committee
     Jun 8, 2015    – 2nd reading in Senate
     Oct 22, 2015  – Posted: Senate
S-1341  Van Drew, J. (D-1); Madden, F.H. (D-4);
Andrzejczak, B. (D-1);
Gusciora, R. (D-15); Spencer, L.G. (D-29)
Establishes penalty for failure to include bittering
agent in antifreeze.
Related Bill: A-2961
     Feb 25, 2014  – Proposed for Senate
introduction
     Feb 27, 2014  – Introduced in Senate
     Feb 27, 2014  – Referred: Senate Environment
and Energy
     Apr 28, 2014  – Reported by committee
     Apr 28, 2014  – 2nd reading in Senate
     Apr 28, 2014  – Referred: Senate Budget and
Appropriations
     Sep 15, 2014  – Reported by committee
     Sep 15, 2014  – 2nd reading in Senate
     Sep 22, 2014  – Passed by the Senate (38-0)
     Sep 22, 2014  – Received by the Assembly
     Sep 22, 2014  – Referred: Assembly
Agriculture and Natural Resources
     Oct 9, 2014    – Reported by committee
     Oct 9, 2014    – 2nd reading in Assembly
     Dec 15, 2014  – Posted but not considered:
Assembly
     Dec 18, 2014  – Assembly amendment (voice
vote) (voice vote) (Diegnan)
     Dec 18, 2014  – 2nd reading in Assembly
     Jan 26, 2015   – Meeting canceled: Assembly
     Jan 29, 2015   – Substituted for another
bill: A2961
     Jan 29, 2015   – Passed by the Assembly
(70-1-0)
     Feb 5, 2015    – Received by the Senate
     Feb 5, 2015    – 2nd reading in the Senate to concur with
amendments
     Oct 22, 2015  – Posted: Senate
S-1413  Smith, B. (D-17); Bateman, C. (R-16)
Requires BPU financial incentives for photovoltaic
equipment for residences that are Energy Star compliant receive preferred
treatment.
Related Bill: A-2531
     Feb 25, 2014  – Proposed for Senate
introduction
     Feb 27, 2014  – Introduced in Senate
     Feb 27, 2014  – Referred: Senate Environment
and Energy
     Sep 21, 2015  – Reported Sca (wo/quorum)
     Sep 24, 2015  – Reported with Senate
committee amendments
     Sep 24, 2015  – 2nd reading in Senate
     Oct 22, 2015  – Posted: Senate
S-2466  Turner, S.K. (D-15); Singer, R.W. (R-30)
Requires BPU to provide links to pricing information to
customers from electric and gas public utilities, and third-party electric
power and gas suppliers.
Related Bill: A-3849
     Oct 9, 2014    – Proposed for Senate introduction
     Oct 14, 2014  – Introduced in Senate
     Oct 14, 2014  – Referred: Senate Environment
and Energy
     Sep 21, 2015  – Reported Sca (wo/quorum)
     Sep 24, 2015  – Reported as a Senate
committee substitute
     Sep 24, 2015  – 2nd reading in Senate
     Oct 22, 2015  – Posted: Senate
S-2468  Turner, S.K. (D-15); Singer, R.W. (R-30)
Imposes contract standards between customers and
third-party electric power and gas suppliers.
Related Bill: A-3851
     Oct 9, 2014    – Proposed for Senate introduction
     Oct 14, 2014  – Introduced in Senate
     Oct 14, 2014  – Referred: Senate Environment
and Energy
     Sep 21, 2015  – Reported Scs (wo/quorum)
     Sep 24, 2015  – Reported as a Senate
committee substitute
     Sep 24, 2015  – 2nd reading in Senate
     Oct 22, 2015  – Posted: Senate
S-2919  Greenstein, L.R. (D-14); Bateman, C. (R-16)
Increases required public notice from 30 days to 60
days for settlements entered into by DEP pursuant to Spill Compensation and Control
Act.
Related Bill: A-4307
     May 7, 2015   – Proposed for Senate introduction
     May 14, 2015 – Introduced in Senate
     May 14, 2015 – Referred: Senate Environment
and Energy
     Jun 8, 2015    – Reported by committee
     Jun 8, 2015    – 2nd reading in Senate
     Oct 22, 2015  – Posted: Senate

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NJ Stevens students shine in national energy competition

 

Those smart engineering students at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken made their school and New Jersey proud this week by capturing first place in a prestigious national Department of Energy competition. Laura Herzog of NJ Advance Media reports that the winning entry was a "futuristic, hurricane-resistant and energy-efficient coastal home that was inspired by Hurricane Sandy and Hoboken’s long history of flooding."

"We were very hopeful that we were going to get first," said graduate engineering student A.J. Elliott, 24, soon after the official win was announced Saturday afternoon.

"We think this really sparks the conversation as an alternative to raising homes up on stilts. We’re certainly going to be doing more research at Stevens, continued research on coastal resilience, and we hope that more people continue (to do research)."

Dozens of students, with guidance from faculty, built the home to withstand Hurricane-force winds and flooding. Named the "Sure House," their design won top honors this week at the 2015 competition in Irvine, California.

The prestigious competition charged the "best and brightest minds from around the world to create innovative, highly energy-efficient homes that will change how we build," U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said in a statement.


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Christie team: Nothing to say on Liberty State Park plans


New Jersey officials said Friday they will not participate in a Senate hearing Monday in Trenton on the Christie administration’s plans to bring more private development to Liberty State Park, Scott Fallon reports in The Record.

The hearing was called after the state Department of Environmental Protection repeatedly denied requests by legislators and advocates, as well as The Record and other news organizations, to release a report by a contractor that assessed privatization possibilities for the state’s most visited park.

Although the report was submitted almost a year ago to the DEP, the agency has said it is not subject to the state’s Open Public Records law because it “has not been finalized, is in draft form and deliberative.”

Bob Considine, a DEP spokesman, said Friday that the report will not be released for Monday’s hearing by the Senate Environment and Energy Committee in Trenton.

“We have been invited to the hearing, but declined because, as we’ve said repeatedly, there are currently no plans for development or amenities at Liberty State Park to discuss,” Considine said.

“When and if there are plans for any kind of enhanced amenities at Liberty State Park, the public will be part of the process.”

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Fishermen’s Energy to reconfigure offshore wind project

After learning that the New Jersey Supreme Court will not hear its appeal, embattled offshore wind developer Fishermen’s Energy will reconfigure its Atlantic City, N.J.-based pilot project using Siemens 4.0-130 wind turbines in an effort to appease state regulators, NAW reports.

According to Fishermen’s Energy, moving to Siemens’ 4 MW offshore wind turbine will address the objections raised by the Board of Public Utilities (BPU), the state regulator with which the developer has been locked in a stalemate since 2013.

The BPU has noted that Fishermen’s frequent switching of turbine suppliers has hurt the wind developer’s application. In its initial June 2011 project application, the BPU says the developer was considering three possible turbine manufacturers: Siemens, GE and China-based XEMC New Energy.

When Fishermen’s opted to go with the China-based XEMC, the BPU questioned the effectiveness of the XEMC turbines. By switching to Siemens, Fishermen’s hopes it has done enough to convince the BPU.

“We have been working with Siemens to utilize their 4 MW turbine – a turbine that is the class leader around the world and one that is ideally suited for waters off the coast of New Jersey,” says Chris Wissemann, CEO of Fishermen’s.

“We actually heard the BPU a long time ago, but the legalistic nature of the process has hindered our ability to work collaboratively with the BPU to agree on a solution.”With the legal challenges behind us, we can now announce progress we have made to reconfigure the project to address the issues that the BPU raised in denying approval last year – namely cost, using proven turbines and traditional sources of project financing.”

Read the full story here 


Related news: It’s day in court over, Fishermen’s energy revamps offshore-wind proposal

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What the judge ignored in barring enviros from Exxon case

R. William Potter

“On October 9, a judge slammed shut the courthouse door to environmental watchdog groups and a state senator seeking to ensure adequate funds for the cleanup of sites heavily polluted by energy giant ExxonMobil,” environmental attorney R. William Potter writes today in NJ Spotlight. 

Judge (Michael) Hogan held that the Department of Environmental Protection “adequately represents” their interest in getting Exxon to finance the cleanup of its pollution.

 Asserting that the Christie administration’s DEP knows what’s best for the state, the judge in the natural-resources damages (NRD) case refused to allow environmental groups and State Senator Ray Lesniak to intervene against the DEP’s plan to settle the state’s claim of $8.9 billion in pollution damage for a relative pittance of $225 million. That’s a lot money to most of us, but pocket change for Exxon. 

The court employed a strain of logic straight out of the 1950s sitcom “Father Knows Best,” reasoning that because “the DEP adequately represents their interests,” therefore the coalition of statewide environmental groups — Sierra Club, Clean Water Action, Delaware Riverkeeper, and Environment New Jersey — would not be allowed into the case to contest the Exxon settlement.

In so doing, the judge — “temporarily assigned’’ and pulled out of retirement — paid lip service to New Jersey’s longstanding judicial policy that favors “liberal standing,” allowing public interest groups to initiate or join in lawsuits. The state’s open-door policy stands — or stood — in sharp contrast to the federal courts, which take a narrow view of whether someone has “standing to sue,” and thus a right to be heard in court.



Potter also argues that Judge Hogan “rejected the use of the Environmental Rights Act (ERA) to confer standing to intervene.”

This Gov. Byrne-era statute proclaims that “every person” has a legally protected interest in preventing “the pollution, impairment and destruction of the environment, [and] that it is therefore, in the public interest to enable ready access to the courts for the remedy of such abuses.”  

Read the full opinion piece here.


Agree? Disagree? Tell us why in the comment box below. If you are attorney who would like to argue the flip side, we’d be pleased to consider your guest column.
Contact: editor@enviropolitics.com or leave a message at: 609-577-917

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Snickers met Delta's refinery purchase. Who laughs today?

Discounted jet fuel from Delta’s Trainer, Pa. refinery supplies the airline’s Northeast operations. Matt Rourke/AP

What in the world does an airline know about running an oil refinery?

That was the reaction of many energy and financial ‘experts’ when Delta Airlines announced in 2012 that it had bought the former ConocoPhillips refinery outside of Philadelphia in Trainer, Pa. for $150 million to reduce their fleet’s jet fuel costs.

No snickering today. Linda Loyd reports why in the Philadelphia Inquirer:

Delta Air Lines said Wednesday that its Trainer refinery in Delaware County posted an $86 million profit in the first quarter of this year.

Delta said the sharp drop in crude oil prices would translate into a $2.2 billion savings in jet-fuel costs in 2015.

"Over the last four quarters, the refinery has produced a cumulative profit of over $220 million," chief financial officer Paul Jacobson said during a conference call on the  company’s earnings.

Delta, whose report began airlines’ earnings season, said it expected that the refinery would make about $80 million in the second quarter.


Read the full story here

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