Governors Tackle Energy

Several years back, I was looking for alternate home energy solutions. I took a home energy audit that compared the different solutions on the market. The winner was a 3.5-ton geothermal solution. This would have dropped my yearly heating and cooling costs from $2,700 (gas & electric) to approximately $550 (electricity only to run the unit). If the house were equipped with two 8-foot BP solar panels and battery backup cells for nights and during times of poor weather, the $550 cost would be removed as well – since the heating and cooling of the home would now be completely off of the power grid. There were also solar and geothermal rebates offered by the state and feds at that time. The total cost for installing a geothermal solution, provided that my house was already equipped with forced air ductwork, was less than $8,000. The underground piping has a 50-year lifespan and the MTBF for the several servicable parts is 10-years. The TCO costs were extremely low to boot.

By comparison, solar was not a cost effective solution at all as the installation, financing costs to install the unit, maintenance along with its limited 20-year lifecycle made it a virtual break-even proposal. Also, the solar panels can introduce roof leaks and requires additional servicing costs. At the time, the BPU was pushing such alternative solutions as geothermal and solar.

Well, it turns out that geothermal solutions are the most energy efficient solutions currently available, bar none.

The problem I have is that the BPU dismantled ALL geothermal information from their site. What is surprising is that solar solutions are still being offered. I’m not sure if it has to do with the fact that BP and several other energy suppliers provide solar solutions?

What concerns me is that it seems like someone got to the BPU board members for them to dismantle the geothermal resources from their site and only push solutions that would benefit the utility companies or fuel providers.

In the Saucon Valley area of Pennsylvania, the million dollar homes that are more than 5,000 square feet in size, almost exclusively use geothermal solutions to curb their high-energy demands. Geothermal should practically be mandated by the state for larger buildings and large houses, extensive alternative heating and cooling credits should continue to be awarded and the BPU should promote proper and efficient residential energy conservation solutions for this state.

It boggles my mind how politicians act as if their purity goes unquestioned.

Christie, do you really think we should take you seriously on this issue - considering your embarrassing track record?

Oh yes, I forgot you think the citizens of this state are stupid and if you keep acting as if you've done nothing wrong we won't notice.  Here let me remind you of one.... Sept. 11 and NYC.

Governors are not problem-solvers.  They are problem makers, who are only interested in protecting their power and the power of their friends.  This state is one of the classic examples of it.  New Jersey is on the brink of going bankrupt, but Corzine wants to form the New Jersey Power Authority.  Why do we need this new department?

This state is blessed with companys that actually know how to make power efficiently and economically.  Instead of encouraging them with tax incentives, and a rational environmental policy, all the idiots in Trenton can come up with is lame excuses about wind fall profits and "green" energy.

Let PSE&G, First Energy and the host of private companys do what they do best, build power plants that can deliver cheap electricity to us. 

"The only man who never makes a mistake is the man who never does anything."
                --Theodore Roosevelt--

Talk is cheap, almost as cheap as wind energy.  unfortuneately the state and its political subdivisions are working at cross purposes.  In my hometown of Wayne a local car wash is seeking a variance in order to erect a 120 foot windturbine.  The car wash is situated on a busy road (Hamburg Turnpike) and sits next an autobody shop.

 Assemblyman Rumana (former Mayor) opposes the turbine and is part of the local opposition.  The planning board he appointed is openly hostile to the applicant and it looks as if Scott Rumana will keep this project from moving forward.

 The applicant is fighting the town in order to erect a windturbine that the BPU has approved for a rebate.  By the time the fight is over, the lawyers will have taken more money than the rebate is worth.

We need a state standard to keep this from happening again.

Martin 2, the same question must be answered of our governor?

He're a man who says that the state must be run as a business but violates every business 'best practice'. How can you claim a budget crisis and demand more money, while at the same time refuse comprehensive audit to ferret out waste and abuse, thereby allowing those funds to be redirected elsewhere?

Is he afraid that he would look foolish to have asked for so much money and float the toll road scheme while there are billions of waste being uncovered -OR- does he just want to hide the fact that waste and abuse occur on his watch? Remember, this is a man that said that there is no corruption or waste in state goverment. Yet, when he was running for governor, he said that there was. Another flip-flop?

Also, while in a budget crisis, billions of dollars in additional initiatives are being planned or implemented. Next is Statewide Comprehensive Health Care - costing and additional $1.7B per year.

Just look at how he decides where to cut and by how much. It shows a total incompetency level, which seems to indicate that he is well over his head. He should have stayed in private business.

Now he wants to be part of Hillary's cabinet. Can you imagine him being the Treasury Secretary? How many funds would get redirected to special causes and interests?

Good. With I&R we might be able to do things that our legislators can't or won't. Of course, it will get shot down and this will just be more fuel for the next election.

O’SCANLON INTRODUCES LEGISLATION CALLING FOR INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM PROCESS

BILL GIVES VOTERS MORE DIRECT INPUT ON STATE ISSUES

Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon introduced legislation Thursday to create an Initiative and Referendum (I&R) process in New Jersey.

Check out this link: http://www.politickernj.com/o-scanlon-introduces-legislation-calling-initiative-and-referendum-process