The New Jersey gubernatorial race isn’t expected to turn on the issue of clean energy, but it’s fast becoming the theme of the week. 

Republican nominee Chris Christie yesterday laid out his clean energy plan, offering tax incentives to encourage manufacturers of renewable energy equipment to locate in New Jersey and outlining plans for increasing solar farms.  He’s spending today and tomorrow promoting it around the state, starting in Robbinsville at a company that manufactures solar power technology.

But Governor Jon Corzine is also promoting clean energy today, holding his own press conference just half an hour later at a headquarters opening for Princeton Power Systems in West Windsor, which manufactures power conversion technologies. 

Governor Jon Corzine is not the only politician in the state trying to associate himself with President Obama.  

Republican gubernatorial nominee Chris Christie today took a page out of Obama's 2008 campaign playbook today, promising that a Christie administration will push hard to create renewable energy-related jobs in New Jersey.

“It’s a change that President Obama stands firmly behind. I couldn’t agree more,” said Christie in a web video, which even included a still shot of Obama inspecting a solar panel.  

In a multi-pronged unveiling of the campaign platform, which included the web video,  a splash on Christie’s campaign Web site, a marketing push on Facebook and a tour around towns in central and southern New Jersey, Christie blamed Gov. Jon Corzine for high taxes that he said stunted renewable energy production.

“Here in New Jersey, unfortunately, we’ve had leadership that likes to talk a lot about renewable energy but hasn’t done much of anything,” he said.

SMITH ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE APPROVED IN SENATE

TRENTON – A legislative package sponsored by Senator Bob Smith, Chairman of the Senate Environment Committee, which would promote energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in New Jersey was approved by the Senate today.

“Energy efficient technology and renewable energy systems are the wave of the future, and represent our best way to conserve our world’s ever-dwindling natural resources,” said Senator Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset. “Not only does energy efficiency and renewable energy make great environmental sense, but as New Jerseyans look to stretch every penny farther during the current economic downturn, these concepts have practical fiscal benefit, too. We need to promote new renewable energy projects and energy efficiency standards to move away from our dependence on foreign oil and give New Jerseyans an option for low-cost home energy.”

SMITH RENEWABLE ENERGY PACKAGE SIGNED INTO LAW

PISCATAWAY – A package of bills sponsored by Senator Bob Smith which will promote renewable energy usage throughout the State of New Jersey was signed into law today by Governor Corzine at the Busch Cogeneration Facility at Rutgers University’s Busch campus.

“Today, the Governor has taken a strong step forward in promoting clean, sustainable energy and New Jersey’s burgeoning green economy,” said Senator Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset, the Chair of the Senate Environment Committee. “As we continue to work to put New Jersey on strong financial footings during this national economic crisis, we need to look to alternative energy production as a valuable part of that, reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and creating hundreds of new green collar jobs in the Garden State. These new laws will lower utility bills, advance renewable energy production, and serve as incentives to business growth in the State.”

THREE ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATIC RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY MEASURES BECOME LAW
 
(TRENTON) - Gov. Jon S. Corzine today signed into law three Assembly Democratic measures designed to improve energy efficiency, expand solar and wind energy production and promote solar energy usage in new homes.

SMITHSMITH RENEWABLE ENERGY PACKAGE APPROVED BY FULL SENATE

            TRENTON – A package of bills sponsored by Senator Bob Smith which would promote renewable energy throughout the State of New Jersey was approved by the Senate today.

            “During this time of economic uncertainty, we need to push for home-grown, cost-effective and environmentally friendly energy alternatives,” said Senator Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset, the Chair of the Senate Environment Committee.  “Promoting wind, solar, photovoltaic or tidal power in New Jersey will give customers a cheap, clean alternative to meet their energy needs and will reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and foreign oil.  This bill package would make New Jersey one of the leaders in the green economy, spawning jobs as well as cost savings for energy consumers.”

ASSEMBLY DEMOCRATIC COMMENTARY ON MEASURE PROMOTING NJ-BASED 'GREEN' MANUFACTURING

(TRENTON) - Assembly members Pamela R. Lampitt, Wayne P. DeAngelo, Gary S. Schaer and Jack Conners today issued a multimedia package on legislation, released from the Assembly State Government Committee, that would promote home-grown, in-state solar and wind energy manufacturing.

The bill (A-3616), sponsored by Lampitt (D-Camden) and DeAngelo (D-Mercer), would grant a preference to New Jersey businesses that produce alternative energy hardware when awarding state contracts involving solar and wind energy projects, further supporting New Jersey "green" businesses and jobs.  The measure also would support projects that aim to use a majority of parts manufactured or produced in the state in the assembly of a final project.

VAN DREW, ALBANO AND MILAM URGE CORZINE AND REGULATORS TO PURSUE NJ BUSINESSES FOR WIND FARMS

Proposal for Small Wind Farm – 8 Turbines – Within NJ Waters Could Make State First in Nation to Harvest Off-Shore Wind Energy

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE – First District Legislators, Senator Jeff Van Drew and Assemblymen Nelson Albano and Matthew Milam, today applauded Governor Corzine’s calls for triple the energy output to be produced by offshore wind farms by the year 2020, and urged State regulators to consider wind farm proposals from local businesses as part of the State’s renewable energy solution.

“Governor Corzine’s plans for the role of off-shore wind energy in New Jersey are going to have nation-wide and world-wide implications,” said Senator Van Drew. “If this is done the right way, it could be a great economic opportunity for South Jersey, and New Jersey will be the first-in-the-world to harvest significant amounts of energy from off-shore wind farms. However, to make these plans – and the Governor’s energy goals – a reality, we’re going to have to reach a critical mass, and open this up to other bidders.”

(Mt. Laurel, NJ) – John Adler, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Congress in New Jersey’s 3rd District, unveiled his plan today to break our nation’s grip on foreign oil.

SMITH BILL TO ENCOURAGE MUNICIPALITIES TO THINK GREEN SIGNED INTO LAW

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Bob Smith which allows municipal planning boards to consider environmental sustainability and green buildings in creating their municipal master plans was signed into law yesterday by Governor Corzine.

“As more and more State residents are becoming aware of terms like ‘carbon footprint’ and making environmentally-conscious decisions, it’s time local government followed suit,” said Senator Smith, D-Middlesex, the Chair of the Senate Environment Committee. “We need to set the example for our constituents that environmentalism and progress are not mutually-exclusive. By giving municipalities more latitude in going green when making zoning plans for the future, we can send a strong message to State residents about the importance of protecting our shared environment.”