IBEW LU 269 installs clean solar energy at hall and trains members

http://www.courierpostonline.com/news/southjersey/m031904f.htm

Study: Clean energy would create jobs

Friday, March 19, 2004

By PAMELA KROPF
Gannett State Bureau
TRENTON

The development of clean energy throughout the Mid-Atlantic region would promote job creation and benefit the Garden State's economy, a new report released Thursday by New Jersey Public Interest Research Group shows.

According to the report - which compared job creation from clean energy technologies to those using fossil fuels - renewable energy, such as from wind and solar resources, would create jobs in manufacturing, installation, operation and maintenance, as well as reduce environmental toxics.

"As this report shows, clearly New Jersey will only benefit from increased clean energy development," Emily Rusch, energy advocate for NJPIRG, said. "Wind and solar not only reduce air pollution and nuclear waste, prevent natural gas spikes and increase reliability, but clean energy also benefits our work force and the economy."

Upfront costs

The report states high system construction costs would be followed by extremely cheap production, but the biggest impediment to developing renewable energy is upfront costs.

"Renewable energy producers are financing 30 years worth of power all at once," the report states. "Coal and natural gas generation, on the other hand, spread the costs of fuel over the lifetime of the plant with the expectation that price fluctuations will be absorbed by the consumer."

To help with high costs, Gov. James E. McGreevey started the New Jersey Clean Energy Program, which includes financial incentives - of up to 60 percent - to owners who install qualified clean energy generation systems, such as photovoltaic (solar electric) systems and wind generators, in the state.

"Renewable energy is clearly the energy of the future and this administration is committed to leading the way," McGreevey said in a prepared statement

Rusch said residents wishing to install solar power in their homes could accrue costs of $6,500 to $10,000 - after the governor's rebate programs.

According to the Board of Public Utility's 2002 Annual Report, renewable energy is cost-effective in the long run.

"The sun and wind will never raise their fuel prices," the report states.

Findings in NJPIRG's report include:


Electricity rates paid by consumers - especially during summertime peaks - would be reduced;

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory predicts that by 2030, 10 percent of the United States electricity demand will be met with solar energy.

If one out of 10 Mid-Atlantic homes used some solar power, 25,390 yearlong and permanent jobs would be created, totaling a payroll of $364 million by 2014;

$23 million in royalties would be paid to rural landowners who lease land for wind generation.
Existing standards

New Jersey already has Renewable Portfolio Standards - which require a portion of electricity provided to consumers to come from clean, renewable resources.

"We are overall comfortable with the standards," Leslie Cifelli, spokeswoman for PSE&G, said.

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 269 in Trenton has already begun training its members to be employed as solar installers.

"We've trained more than 50 of our members to install PV (solar photovoltaic) systems," said Clifford Reisser, training director for the IBEW Southern New Jersey chapter. "The bottom line is, this means jobs for our members."

Reisser said the IBEW building has four PV systems.

"We've reduced our electric bill by 65 percent," Reisser said.







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