***MONDAY - ADVISORY***

ASSEMBLY ENVIRONMENT PANEL TO CONSIDER MEASURE TO CONVERT CONTAMINATED SITES INTO RENEWABLE ENERGY

(TRENTON) - The Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee on Monday, Jan. 4 will consider a bill Assemblyman John F. McKeon sponsored to provide local governments and counties with up to $5 million in matching grants to convert contaminated sites into renewable energy projects.

"This innovative measure would use existing state funds to stimulate the economy by investing in renewable energy sources and creating green jobs," McKeon (D-Essex) said. "By cleaning-up contaminated sites and returning them to productive use, we would deliver a high return on the state's investment."

The legislation (A-4341) would allocate funds on an annual basis from the Hazardous Discharge Site Remediation Fund for up to 75 percent of the cost of the remedial action for renewable energy generation.

The Assembly Environment panel is scheduled to be held 2 p.m. Monday, January 4 in Committee Room 9, 3rd Floor, State House Annex, West State Street, Trenton.

Under existing law, matching grants of up to $5 million per year are provided for projects involving the redevelopment of property for recreation or conservation purposes or for affordable hoying. This measure would also allow those grants to be used for redevelopment of contaminated property for the generation of renewable energy.

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Contact:
Gita Bajaj
(973) 224-4851 cellular