Trenton- With strong
bipartisan support, the Assembly voted (66-10-1) in favor of passing a bill
(A1763), sponsored by Assembly Majority Leader Watson Coleman, to lengthen the
list of appliances required to have strong energy efficiency standards. The bill now moves to the Senate.
“With energy costs rising, this bill will benefit New
Jersey
consumers," said Rebekah Scotland of New Jersey Public Interest Research Group. “Consumers who purchase efficient
products will save the most, but all New Jersey
consumers will benefit from a reduced energy demand. We will not have to rely so much on expensive
peak energy sources.”
The Assembly bill updates New Jersey’s
energy efficiency policies, taking advantage of improvements in technology to
strengthen efficiency standards for certain appliances. Specifically, the bill would
require the Board of Public Utilities, the Department of Community Affairs, in
consultation with the Department of Environmental Protection, to establish
minimum energy efficiency standards for residential furnaces, furnace fans,
bottle-type water dispensers, and commercial hot food holding cabinets.
The energy efficient appliances are expected to start saving
consumers money, in just 1 to 4 years, through energy savings. Savings from just these 4 appliances are estimated
to reach $650 million.
“With concerns about energy cost and reliability continually
on the rise across the country, we need to do everything we can in New
Jersey to save energy and also protect the consumer,”
explained Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman.
Electricity demand
will drop by 45 MW by 2020, which is equivalent to the energy use of about
45,000 households. In addition, by 2020
carbon emissions will drop by 100,000 metric tons per year, which is equivalent
to removing 80,000 cars from the road.
“It has been said that ‘the human race is challenged more
than ever before to demonstrate our mastery, not over nature but of
ourselves.’ All communities need to
understand the importance of energy efficiency to protect the environment,”
said Watson Coleman. “This bill is socially responsible and recognizes the
significant effect that is needed to preserve and protect our future.”
“We applaud Senator Thomas Kean for sponsoring the Senate
companion bill (S1253) and hope to see swift passage through the Senate,” noted Scotland.
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