MEETING OF NORTHEAST STATES UNVEILS ENERGY CHALLENGES FACING NEW JERSEY IN MONTHS AHEAD

MEETING OF NORTHEAST STATES UNVEILS ENERGY CHALLENGES FACING NEW JERSEY IN MONTHS AHEAD

Lawmaker Moderated Energy & Environmental Panel
At Council of State Governments Conference in Atlantic City

(ATLANTIC CITY) - Assemblyman John F. McKeon today said he received invaluable insight on the growing national energy crisis after moderating a panel on energy use at the Eastern Regional Conference of the Council of State Governments (CSG). 

"With the price of everything from heating oil to gasoline at or near record highs, governments across the Northeast are struggling to find cost-efficient ways to meet current and future energy demands," said McKeon (D-Essex), a member of CSG's Eastern Regional Energy and Environment Committee.  "The ideas and strategies shared and discussed during the panel will be of critical importance to New Jersey and the rest of the Northeast in the coming months and years."

Featured panelists included a representative from the U.S. Department of Energy, state Board of Public Utilities president Jeanne Fox, lawmakers from several states, and representatives from various energy trade groups.

McKeon said the chance for lawmakers from across the country and Canada to collaborate with business leaders, academics, non-profits and each other has become increasingly important as demand for energy in New Jersey and the rest of the Northeast continues to put greater and greater strain on supplies.

"Without a significant change in the direction of our state and federal energy policies, the energy problems facing New Jersey and our neighbors to the north will only continue to escalate," said McKeon.  "Fortunately, it seems many state and provincial lawmakers have gotten the message and are working at a frenetic pace to support renewable energy alternatives." 

"This, coupled with energy conservation efforts should ensure that Northeast states will be able to satisfy their energy needs," said McKeon.  "Moreover, New Jersey continues to lead by example as we work to cut greenhouse gas emissions and meet our 20-percent energy reduction goal under the Global Warming Act."

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