New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
Date: 2020-06-15
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) is reporting approval of the next generation of Energy Efficiency and Peak Demand Reduction programs, including the setting of energy consumption reduction targets at 2.15 pct for electric distribution companies and 1.10 pct for gas distribution companies.

The just announced Board Order provides for the administration of the energy efficiency programs and establishes the mechanisms for the recovery of costs associated with the programs delivery, performance metrics and targets, an evaluation, measurement, verification framework and program filing and reporting requirements. The Order also includes the following energy efficiency related requirements:

The state's utilities will administer core, consistent energy efficiency programs that serve the residential, commercial and industrial, and multifamily sectors. These will include programs that serve moderate-income and small commercial customers.

Utilities will also be required to propose a peak demand program to start by program year four.

The state will continue to administer the Large Energy Users Program (with the exception of hospitals), combined heat and power projects, as well as state and local government programs. The utilities and state will continue to co-manage the low-income Comfort Partners program. The state will also take the lead on related R&D, workforce development initiatives, public education, and community energy planning grants.

Program expenses will be amortized over 10 years, which sets energy efficiency investments on a level playing field relative to other utility investments.

Over the next several months, staff will work with the utilities and the Division of Rate Counsel to develop a mechanism for the utilities to recover their lost revenue as an option should utilities not wish to utilize the Lost Revenue Adjustment Mechanism as laid out in the order. Further, the Board has instituted a system of incentives and penalties as required by the Clean Energy Act to encourage performance.

Staff will develop and distribute a mechanism for stakeholder comments, and recommend a test that will determine program cost-effectiveness in order to comply with the Clean Energy Act. The state will also hire a statewide evaluator to ensure transparency and accountability for state and utility programs.

The BPU will conduct a triennial review process to revisit key energy efficiency decisions, such as reviewing and establishing performance metrics and targets, cost recovery mechanisms, program administration and design, and "cost to achieve" budgets, among others, to ensure that the programs are "best-in-class."

Other program components include enhanced required reporting and measurement for performance incentives and collection of additional information via a recently completed demographic analysis study to determine energy efficiency market barriers to penetration. (Source: NJ BPU, PR, 10 June, 2020) Contact: NJ BPU, Joseph L. Fiordaliso, Pres., 800-624-0241, www.bpu.state.nj.us

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New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
Date: 2020-05-22
In Trenton, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJ BPU) is reporting the lifting of a recently imposed, COVID-19 inspired ban on utilities and energy firms entering homes for energy audit and energy efficiency upgrades.

After the agency sought to limit access to homes, the state's utilities essentially told contractors to end energy-efficiency work to comply with the directive, virtually shutting down programs to curtail energy use. As a result of the shutdown, New Jersey lost an estimated 11,000 or more energy efficiency sector , according to Environmental Entrepreneurs, and others.

The Murphy administration has touted energy efficiency as a key component of its plans to shift the Garden State to 100 pct clean energy by 2050, but it is lagging behind mandates to require utilities to achieve significant cuts in energy use. (Source: New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, NJ Spotlight, 21 May, 2020) Contact: NJBPU, 800-624-0241, www.bpu.state.nj.us

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New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
Date: 2020-03-27
In the Garden State, a new "straw" proposal from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities is calling for a new comprehensive program aimed at increasing energy efficiency programs and incentives across all sectors of the state’s energy customer base, but particularly focused on low income customers.

To that end, the proposal suggested: allowing utilities to recover program costs; recovery of lost revenues tied to efficiency programs and earning opportunities for efficiency investments through performance incentives, as tools to align the utility business model with increased energy efficiency; and penalizing the utility's return on equity if it failed to achieve performance standards. (Source: NJ BPU, NJ Spotlight, 25 Mar., 2020) Contact: NJBPU, 800-624-0241, www.bpu.state.nj.us

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Orsted,Offshore Wind,Deepwater Wind
Date: 2020-03-16
Boston-headquartered Orsted US Offshore Wind reports it is establishing an operations "hub" in Rhode Island. As previously reported, Orsted acquired Deepwater Wind of Rhode Island for $510 million in 2018.

Additionally, as previously reported, Orsted U.S. Offshore Wind operates the Block Island Wind Farm and has been awarded over 2,900 MW of capacity through six projects. In June, 2019, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities selected Orsted to develop the Garden State's first offshore wind farm 15 miles off the coast of Atlantic City. (Source: Orsted, Newsday, 15 Mar., 2020) Contact: Orsted, Thomas Brostrom, Pres. Orsted North America, CEO Orsted U.S. Offshore Wind, +45 99 55 97 22, www.us.orsted.com/Wind-projects; Deepwater Wind, Jeffrey Grybowski, CEO, (401) 274-2000, www.dwwind.com

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Orsted
Date: 2020-03-06
In the Garden State, Montclair State University is reporting Orsted U.S. Offshore Wind is investing $200,000 to support the school's Clean Energy and Sustainability Analytics Center (CESAC) -- a public research, education and technical assistance outreach center -- under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

Boston-headquartered Orsted U.S. Offshore Wind operates the Block Island Wind Farm and has been awarded over 2,900 MW of capacity through six projects. In June, 2019, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities selected Orsted to develop the Garden State's first offshore wind farm 15 miles off the coast of Atlantic City, as previously reported. (Source: Montclair State University, PR, 3 Mar.,2020) Contact: Montclair University, Susan Cole, Pres., (973) 655-4000, www.montclair.edu; Orsted U.S. Offshore Wind, www.us.orsted.com/Wind-projects

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New Jersey
Date: 2020-03-02
In Trenton, Garden State Governor Governor Phil Murphy (D) has announced the offshore wind solicitation schedule to meet the 7,500 MW offshore wind goal by 2035 and called upon the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to implement the schedule. Reaching 7,500 MW will generate enough electricity to power more than 3.2 million homes and meet 50 pct of the state's electric power need.

The proposed schedule calls for the next 1,200 MW solicitation to be opened by September 2020, with an award made by Q2, 2021.

New Jersey aims to source 50 pct of it energy from renewables by 2030 and achieve a 100 pct clean energy economy by 2050. (Source: Office of Governor Phil Murphy, PR, 28 Feb., 2020) Contact: NJ BPU, www.bpu.state.nj.us

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New Jersey PUC, Renewable Energy
Date: 2020-02-14
In January, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) released its 2019 New Jersey Energy Master Plan -- Pathway to 2050 outlining the policies, initiatives and actions the Garden State can take to affordably meet its ambitious 2050 clean energy and decarbonization target of cutting its carbon emissions by 80 pct and power its economy with a 100 pct carbon-neutral renewable energy by 2050.

For the report, the Rocky Mountain Institute, together with Evolved Energy Research, analyzed six decarbonization pathways that New Jersey could take and summarized the findings and made recommendations for policymakers and the public.

Download the 2019 nNew Jersey Energy Master Plan -- Pathway to 2050 HERE. (Source: NJPUC, Feb., 2020) Contact: NJBPU, 800-624-0241, www.bpu.state.nj.us

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New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
Date: 2020-02-14
In the Garden State, a draft proposal from the staff of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) is at the core of the agency's efforts to achieve the state's 2018 mandated energy efficiency goals that promote a shift to 100 pct clean energy by 2050 -- a target unlikely to be met without overhauling the NJBPU's energy efficiency programs since the demand for electricity is expected to double by mid-century.

Under the staff proposal, utilities will be able to recover lost revenues attributable to their energy efficiency programs, as well as programs to reduce peak-time energy consumption -- all of which runs contrary to established utility business models that encourage energy consumption to the point of wastefulness for growth and higher profits.

The draft proposal is modeled on energy efficiency programs adopted by South Jersey Gas and New Jersey Natural Gas more than a decade ago, so-called limited decoupling. Dubbed Conservation Incentive Programs (CIP), they rely on incentives funded by shareholders to implement conservation programs. The staff draft balances the interests of both the utilities and ratepayers and allows utilities to earn a return on their energy efficiency investments, according to the NJBPU. (Source: New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, NJ Spotlight, 13 Feb., 2020) Contact: New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, 800-624-0241, www.bpu.state.nj.us

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New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
Date: 2020-01-22
In a straw proposal, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) reports it is proposing a framework for how the Garden State can significantly cut electric and gas use and implement 2018 state legislation mandating utilities curb customer electric usage by 2 pct and gas use by 0.75 pct per year.

The energy efficiency plan proposes that state staff deliver statewide policy programs and goals, particularly those involving governmental entities, and that utilities help achieve goals based on the staff's assumption that utilities are best suited to deliver certain energy efficiency and peak reduction programs. (Source: New Jersey, BPU, Spotlight NJ, 21 Jan., 2020) Contact: New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, 800-624-0241, www.bpu.state.nj.us

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New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
Date: 2019-12-20
On December 6, 2019, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) issued an order effective December 16, 2019, establishing a Solar Transition Incentive Program (TREC), the key provisions of the Order are as follows:

The TREC Program will be available to all solar projects that submitted complete SREC Registration (SRP) Applications after October 29, 2018 that have yet to commence operations but otherwise remain in good standing in the SRP pipeline at the time the BPU determines that 5.1 pct of all electricity sold in New Jersey comes from solar generation;

All TREC Program projects will generate a factored Transition Renewable Energy Certificate for each MWh of electricity generated;

TRECs will be generated for 15 years and will be purchased by a TREC Administrator who will allocate the TRECs amongst the load serving entities;

The Clean Energy Act of 2018 established a cap that prohibits the cost of Class 1 RECs (excluding the cost of offshore wind RECs), which includes the TREC, from amounting to more than 9 pct of the total electric sales during Energy Years 2020 and 2021, and amounting to more than 7 pct of total electric sales during subsequent energy years;

The TREC is valued at $65 for energy years 2021, 2022 and 2023, and $189 for each remaining energy year of the projects' 15 year TREC eligibility. The BPU will provide further guidance as to whether the TREC value will remain as set forth above or will be changed to a flat $152 for all 15 years of generation eligibility;

TRECs may be sold in the energy year (June 1 -- May 31) in which they are generated and the following energy year. If the TREC is not sold within the applicable window, they may be sold as Class 1 RECs.

The order now provides some certainty to solar developers and will provide a transition program until the BPU establishes a new long-term incentive program. (Source: NJ BPU, Dec., 2019) Contact: New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, 800-624-0241, www.bpu.state.nj.us

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Orsted,New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
Date: 2019-06-24
Sitting in Trenton, the The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) report it unanimously granted the Garden State's first award for a 1,100 MW offshore wind project to Danish offshore wind farm developer Orsted.

The 1,100 MW project is expected to generate sufficient electric power for approximately 500,000 New Jersey homes and generate $1.17 billion in economic benefits.

The project is single largest award for offshore wind in the country to date and marks further progress toward meeting New Jersey's goal of 100 pct clean energy by 2050. (Source: NJBPU, 23 June, 2019) Contact: New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, (800) 624-0241, www.bpu.state.nj.us; Orsted, Martin Neubert, Exex. VP and CEO of Offshore, Daniel Lerup, Inv. Relations, +45 99 55 97 22, danil@orsted.dk, www.orsted.dk

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New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
Date: 2019-01-02
In Trenton, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) reports it has green-lighted the adoption of a funding mechanism for the state's offshore wind programme, which targets 3.5 GW by 2030. The Offshore Wind Renewable Energy Certificate (OREC) funding scheme defines the process by which all offshore wind projects will be financed and how revenues will flow back to ratepayers, according to a NJBPU press release.

The NJBPU also announced the rejection of the up to 25-MW Nautilus pilot offshore wind project in New Jersey waters on the grounds that the project's "unsubstantiated benefits" would be a burden to ratepayers. (Source: New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, Renewables, Dec., 2018)Contact: NJ BPU, www.bpu.state.nj.us

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New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
Date: 2018-12-21
Reporting from Trenton, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) has rejected the application for the up to 25-MW Nautilus pilot offshore wind project in state waters on the grounds that it was too expensive, the project's benefits were "unsubstantiated" and didn't meet conditions for economic and environmental benefits under the state's Offshore Wind Economic Development Act (OWEDA).

The project, which is being developed by Nautilus Offshore Wind LLC, a partnership between EDF Renewables North America and Atlantic City-based Fishermen's Energy LLC, planned the installation of three MHI Vestas V164-8.3 MW wind turbines about 2.8 miles off the coastline of Atlantic City. The project was planned to come online in 2020. (Source: New Jersey BPU, 18 Dec, 2018) Contact: NJ BPU, www.bpu.state.nj.us; Nautilus Offshore Wind, www.nautiluswind.com

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New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
Date: 2018-11-02
In the Garden State, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) reports its approval of a 6-month, $300,000 contract under which Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ, will perform an analysis of the state's energy storage needs and opportunities.

The analysis is intended to help the state meet the energy storage targets set by the Clean Energy Act of 2018. To that end, the report will summarize the analysis and discuss and quantify the potential benefits and costs associated with increasing energy storage and distributed energy resources in New Jersey. It will also recommend ways to increase opportunities for energy storage and distributed energy resources in the state. Additionally, the analysis will assess whether the implementation of renewable electric energy storage systems would promote the use of electric vehicles in New Jersey as well as the potential impact on renewable energy production.

The 2018 Clean Energy Act calls for 600 MW of energy storage by 2021 and 2,000 MW of energy storage by 2030. (Source: NJBPU, Energy Insider, 1 Nov., 2018) Contact: NJBPU, Joseph L. Fiordaliso, Pres., www.bpu.state.nj.us; Rutgers University, www.rutgers.edu

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Date: 2018-09-19
In the Garden State, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) reports it has unanimously agreed to accept offshore wind project proposals for a total of 1,100 MW to be sited approximately 17 to 20 miles off the New Jersey coast.

New Jersey Legislation to develop offshore wind was passed in 2010, but the effort was stymied by then Republican Governor and presidential hopeful Chris Christie. The state's new Gov. Phil Murphy (D) revived the offshore wind initiative with a call for 100 pct clean energy by 2050. (Source: NJ PUB, KYW Radio, 17 Sept., 2018)Contact: NJ PUB, Joseph Fiordaliso, Pres., (609) 777-3300, www.bpu.state.nj.us

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Fishermen’s Energy
Date: 2018-06-04
In the Garden State, thanks to Gov. Phil Murphy's (D) recent signing of NJ bill S-1217, Fishermen's Energy is going to get a third chance to convince the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to approve its twice previously rejected 24-MW pilot offshore wind project about three miles from Atlantic City.

S-1217 requires the BPU to accept an application from Fishermen's and review it within 90 days. The company's two previous proposals were rejected by the BPU as being too expensive for the state's ratepayers, who will pay for the electricity from the wind turbines.

Since the Fishermen's project was last before the BPU, the company reached a preliminary agreement earlier this spring to be acquired by EDF Renewable Energy, a global developer of clean-energy projects. EDF has developed 400 MW of offshore wind capacity in Europe. Orsted, U.S. Wind and Deepwater Wind are planning to develop an offshore wind project in a joint venture with the Public Service Enterprise Group about 16 miles from Cape May. The BPU is currently working on developing a funding mechanism to have ratepayers subsidize offshore wind along the coast. (Source: Fishermen's Energy, NJSpotlight, Various Others, 31 May, 2018) Contact: Fishermen's Energy, http://www.offshorewindhub.org/tags/fishermens-energy

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PSEG
Date: 2018-06-04
Newark, New Jersey-headquartered Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) has released a plan to invest $14 billion to $17 billion over the next five years.

The program, if approved, would include a significant increase in the utility's energy efficiency investments and provide an opportunity for annual growth of 8 pct to 10 pct in PSE&G's rate base. The proposal includes:

$2.5 billion for energy efficiency to reduce bills and lower energy use, which will decrease air pollution, including emissions that accelerate climate change;

$300 million for building a "smart" electric vehicle infrastructure; and

$100 million for utility-scale energy storage systems that will enable greater development of renewable resources and enhance resiliency.

PSEG estimates that the energy efficiency program will over the six-year life of the program, reduce CO2 emissions by 24 million tons and reduce energy use by 40 million MWh of electricity and 675 million therms of natural gas.

PSEG expects to file its clean energy plan with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities later this year. (Source: PSEG, PR, 31 May, 2018)Contact: PSEG, Courtney McCormick, VP Renewables and Energy Efficiency, www.pseg.com

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New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
Date: 2018-05-04
In an effort to better deliver an array of energy efficiency programs and their benefits to customers in the generally under-served multiple-family dwellings sector, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities reports it is overhauling the various energy efficiency programs offered in the Garden State. The intent is to reduce energy consumption, better serve energy consumers and generally simplify and ease access to the wide range of energy efficiency programs financed by the state's Clean Energy program.

Delivering energy savings, incentives and rebates paid by virtually all electric and gas customers on their monthly energy bills to low-income customers has been, and is a problem. The redesign effort aims to make the wide range of rebates and incentives more effective, accessible and effective by rolling many of them into a program for multi-family building developers and owners. Individual apartment owners would not be eligible, according to the current contours of the program which is expected to be rolled out on a transition basis in January, 2019. The bill would also require the state's electric utilities to reduce customer power consumption by 2 pct. Few details have been announced to date.(Source: New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, NJ Spotlight, 3 May, 2018) Contact: New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, (609) 777-3300, www.bpu.state.nj.us

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NJ Comfort Partners, Green Life Energy Solutions
Date: 2018-02-28
In the Garden State, the city of Egg Harbor's SustainableEHC "green team" reeports it is partnering with the NJ Comfort Partners program and Green Life Energy Solutions to save residents on the cost of home energy.

The NJ Comfort Partners program, which is funded through New Jersey Board of Public Utilities and Clean Energy program, provides eligible homeowners with energy efficient lightbulbs, low-flow showerheads, energy efficient refrigerators and thermostats, insulation upgrades, duct sealing and repair, heating and cooling equipment and comprehensive personalized energy education and counseling.

The energy audit and efficiency measures are provided free of charge by Certified Building Performance Institute contractors. Green Life Energy Solutions of Egg Harbor Township is the local provider and scheduler of the service.

NJ Comfort Partners has assisted 108,000 low- middle-income households since the program started in 2001. The program is available until June 30 or while funds last. (Source: City of Egg Harbor, SustainableEHC, 27 Feb., 2018) Contact: SustainableEHC, www.sustainableehc.org; NJ Comfort Partners, www.njcleanenergy.com; Green Life Energy Solutions, (609) 407-6900, www.greenlifeisgood.com

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New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
Date: 2017-08-25
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) reports it has given the green light Public Service Electric and Gas Company's (PSE&G) proposed extension of three existing energy efficiency programs and the implementation of two new programs.

PSE&G will invest a total of $69 million to continue its Hospital Efficiency Program, Residential Multifamily Housing Efficiency Program and Direct Install Program and to begin a Smart Thermostat Program and Residential Data Analytics Program. The two new programs will help residential customers save money on their home energy bills by encouraging the purchase of smart thermostats and by providing selected customers with personalized energy reports. (Source: PSEG, 23 Aug., 2017) Contact: PSEG, Courtney McCormick, VP Renewables and Energy Efficiency, www.pseg.com; New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, (609) 777-3300, www.state.nj.us/bpu

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