NJ BPU Publishes Draft Update to NJ Energy Master Plan; Comments Due 12/4
November 23, 2015
On November 20th, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities issued a press release that it had published a draft update to the 2011 New Jersey Energy Master Plan. In its Update, the Board emphasizes that this is not a rewrite of the plan, but an update to the 2011 EMP.
The 2011 EMP contained five overarching goals, for which the Update provides a status of the progress made in the last 3 years:
- Drive down the Cost of Energy For All Customers
- Promote a Divers Portfolio of New, Clean, In-State Generation
- Reward Energy Efficiency and Energy Conservation/Reduce Peak Demand
- Capitalize on Emerging Technologies for Transportation and Power Production
- Maintain Support for the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard
The Update also adds a fifth general section to the 2011 EMP’s Plan for Action, “Improve Energy Infrastructure Resiliency & Emergency Preparedness and Response,” based upon New Jersey’s Plan for Action in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. These policy recommendations are:
- Improve Energy Infrastructure Resiliency & Emergency Preparedness and Response
- Protect the State’s critical energy infrastructure
- Improve EDC emergency preparedness and response
- Increase the use of microgrid technologies and applications for distributedenergy resources (DER)
- Create long-term financing for resiliency measures through the ERB
There is a 2 week open comment period, with written comments due Friday, December 4, 2015. If you have any question or need additional information, please contact Grace Strom Power at (609) 989.5008 or at gpower@eckertseamans.com.