Legislative & Regulatory Update       

New Jersey  

Reported from Senate Environment and Energy Committee, 8/25/2011 (passed by Assembly, 6/29/2011):

S-2978 (Identical Bill A-3991): The bill would amend current law concerning electric public utility equipment height standards, adopted by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU), to allow for more construction and installation of solar and photovoltaic electric generation equipment by electric public utilities on utility poles.

Text of Bill 

Senate Environment and Energy Committee statement, 8/25/2011 

Reported from Senate Environment and Energy Committee as a Substitute, 2nd Reading, 8/25/2011:

S-2811 (Identical Bill A-3806): The bill would amend the definition of "Class I renewable energy" contained in the "Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act," P.L.1999, c.23 (C.48:3-49 et al.) to enable customer-generators using geothermal heat pumps that meet standards set by the Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), in consultation with the Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU), to obtain credit for electricity produced by their renewable system. The committee substitute adds the requirement that the geothermal energy be produced within the State of New Jersey.

Text of Bill 

Senate Environment and Energy Committee statement, 8/25/2011 

Federal

Referred to House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training (Committee on Education and the Workforce), 9/8/2011:

H.R. 2207: The Grants for Renewable Energy Education for the Nation Act or the GREEN Act, authorizes the Secretary of Education to award competitive grants to partnerships of local educational agencies (LEAs), postsecondary institutions, and renewable energy industry representatives to develop programs of study focused on emerging careers and jobs in the renewable energy sector. The bill also provides a total of $100 million for clean energy improvements to educational facilities.

Text of Bill 

Bill status page 

Requests for Proposals & Public Notices  

The Gloucester County (N.J.) Improvement Authority (GCIA) is requesting proposals for a solar power purchase agreement for the campuses of Gloucester County College and Gloucester County Institute of Technology, both in Sewell. Due 10/11/2011; pre-proposal meeting 9/15/2011:

Details 

The Cumberland County (N.J.) Improvement Authority has issued a revised Request for Proposals for a developer of photovoltaic systems for local government facilities in Cumberland County. Due 10/6/2011:

Details 

The Medford Township (N.J.) Zoning Board will consider an application for variances related to a proposed solar energy facility on an approximately 85-acre property located along Reeves Station Road. Public hearing 9/21/2011: 
Details 

The York County (Pa.) Economic Development Corporation (YCEDC) is accepting applications for Qualified Energy Conservation Bond (QECB) program funding for projects that reduce energy consumption by 20% in publicly owned buildings, alternative and renewable energy projects, and to finance retrofits of existing privately owned facilities for heating, cooling, lighting or other efficiency measures. Applications are due by 11/1/2011:

Details 

The East Drumore Township (Pa.) Board of Supervisors will consider a conditional use application by Quarryville Presbyterian Retirement Community to construct an array of 1,910 solar panels. Public hearing 9/20/2011:

Details

Articles & Announcements        

N.J. Lawmakers Look to Pull the Plug on Draft Energy Plan (NJ Spotlight)    

School districts get energized by solar plans (Courier-Post)

Feds Award 2 Pa. companies, Princeton University and the University of Delaware $17 Million for Solar Technology Development (U.S. Department of Energy news release)

List of awards by state

Pennsylvania Reaches 100 MW of Solar Ahead of Schedule (SolarServer.com) 

Solar company that got federal loan shuts down (Philly.com) 

New Jersey Schedules Solar Summit to Discuss Stabilizing Prices 

(NJ Spotlight)

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