Tomorrow the final verison of the energy master plan will be presented to the public. The energy master plan is the State’s blueprint to energy production and usage. The State is required to produce an energy master plan every three years. The current plan is several years in the making and twelve years or so (I think) overdue. We will see what the final plan looks like, but the draft plan was lacking in many respects. Once I have had a chance to look it at I will try to give a review.
Archive for October, 2008
Hopewell Valley Green Market on Sat 10-18
Written by Mike Pisauro on October 16th, 2008 in Business, Global Warming, Sustainability | No Comments »This Sat, Oct. 18th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. the Hopewell Valley Green Market will be having their first event. The prime mover of the market is Tom Adelman. The goal of the event is to demonstate to people some of the green options there are available. Also to educate people and businesses how we all have an effect on the environment and the little and not so little things we can do to minimize that effect. How we all can take just a little bit out of the major issue of our day: global warming.
This is an amazing demonstration of the old adage of “think global act local” The market is presenting an opportunity for people to learn of the options that are available to them right in their backyard. By bringing together merchants to display their “green” products it also provides an opportunity to cut through an amazing amount of green hype and greenwashing.
It is also an amazing demonstration of what a few energetic people can do. I had been wondering with the faultering economy whether people’s environmental interests would wane and whether there really was a committment by the general population to a healthy environment. The Hopewell Valley business community has clearly risen to the occassion and have shown their support.
For more information on the event go to their website (here). I hope to see you there.
New Jersey Offshore Wind
Written by Mike Pisauro on October 14th, 2008 in Global Warming, Ocean, Renewable Energy | No Comments »On Friday, October 3rd, the State came took a first, small step closer to its goal of having an offshore wind farm. BPU announced that it has awarded a $4 million dollar grant to Garden State Offshore Energy for its proposal. Garden State Offshore Energy proposed to build a 345.6 megawatt farm about 16 miles off the coast of Atlantic City. This grant is the result of the State’s blue ribbon panel on offshore wind. The panel recommended back in April 2006 that the State should seek a pilot program of up to 350 megawatts. The panel’s recommendation was the result of a December 23, 2004 executive order setting up the panel and placing a moratorium on off-shore wind until the panel made its recommendations. ( I am going to have to do a longer more comprehensive entry on the panel’s recommendations at a later time.)
Then on Monday October 6th, the Governor came out with an amazing announcement. The State has announced that it is going to be the leader in offshore wind within the United States. According to the Governor:
“Today, I am announcing that we’re not just doubling our commitment, we’re tripling it. New Jersey will support and encourage the development of 3,000 MW of wind power off its coast by 2020, which will be 13 percent of its total electricity. And we will get to 1,000 MW by 2012.”
While the Governor. in the original press release from BPU, called New Jersey a leader in renewable energy, that claim was strengthened by his announcement three days latter. It seems that NJ is a leader on offshore wind at least on paper. What this means is that of the five companies that submitted proposals to the BPU for offshore wind, at least two more companies will get a chance to move forward and start the lengthy process of siting, permitting and installing wind farms. This is a major commitment to renewable energy.
There still many obstacles that must be overcome before the first monopole is placed in the seabed. There are too many people who do not want a wind farm off of our coast because of its “visual pollution,” possible impacts on the tourist economy, or for some other reason.
The Governor’s announcement also changed the game somewhat. The original proposal of the Blue Ribbon Panel was to begin with a pilot program. What the Governor has announced is not a pilot program but a bold and necessary vision of the future. Instead of installing 350 megawatts of offshore wind the goal is 1,000 megawatts by 2012 and 3,000 megawatts of renewable energy by 2020. We need to install as much renewable energy as possible if we are have any chance of meeting the State’s goal of reducing our greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020. This is a very good start. I hope that this not a greenwashing moment but a true committment by this administration.
We are experiencing technically difficulties.
Written by Mike Pisauro on October 14th, 2008 in Uncategorized | No Comments »For all of you who have been following my blog, thank you. Two weeks ago I attempted to update the blog’s software. As many things in life, Murphy’s law took hold and did some very strange things. I have been trying to repair it since and finally gave up and reinstalled the sofware. Luckily, I had backed up the blog, but once again things did not go smoothly. So please bear with me as I re-create the blog.
As I re-create the blog and all of its features, I would like to take this opportunity to seek feedback. Please let me know know what you like about the site and what you do not. What do you want to see in future posts? Why do you read the blog and how do you get it? (rss feed, email, or old fashion go to the site). Please email me at mike@fplegal.com with your comments and suggestions.
Thank you,
Mike Pisauro