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Legislative & Regulatory Update 
New Jersey
Following Pocket Veto, Geothermal Heat Pump Bill Reintroduced
Introduced and Referred to Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee, Senate Environment and Energy Committee, 1/10/2012:
A-1213 (Identical Bill Number S-828)(Last Session Bill Numbers: A-3806, S-2811):
These bills passed the Legislature just before the end of the two-year Legislative Session last month, but were not signed by Gov. Chris Christie, resulting in a pocket veto. The bill would amend the definition of "Class I renewable energy" contained in the "Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act" 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. To qualify, the geothermal energy must be produced within the State of New Jersey.
Text of Bill
Following Pocket Veto, Renewable Energy System Tax Break Bills Reintroduced
Reported from Senate Committee with Amendments, 2nd Reading; Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, 1/30/2012:
S-127 (Last Session Bill Number: 2888):
The bill passed the Legislature just before the end of the two-year Legislative Session last month, but was not signed by Gov. Chris Christie, resulting in a pocket veto. The bill establishes uniform alternative assessment for commercial renewable energy systems and limits municipal construction permit fees for non-commercial renewable energy systems. Under the bill, property that has been certified by a local enforcing agency as a commercial renewable energy system would be exempt from property taxation, and would instead be subject to a uniform assessment. The committee amendment would make consistent the terminology used in the bill to refer to the assessment on a commercial renewable energy system. The Bill has also been reintroduced to the Assembly, as A-2137 (Last Session Bill Number: A-3893).
Text of Bill (Amended version)
Committee Statement, 1/30/2012
Pennsylvania
Bill Requiring Energy-Efficient State Buildings Passes House, Moves to Senate
Approved by House, 1/25/2012 (170-18); Referred to Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, 2/1/2012: HB-193:
Requires the design, construction and renovation of state-owned or state-leased buildings to comply with specified energy and high-performance building standards, and provides for the powers and duties of the Department of General Services (DGS). The bill would require high-performance buildings to be designed "to achieve integrated systems and design construction so as to significantly reduce or eliminate the negative impact of the built environment." State-owned or State-leased buildings and State-owned construction projects where the building is larger than 20,000 gross square feet would be subject to the provisions of the bill.
Text of Bill
Bill History Page
Delaware
Bill Would Freeze Renewable Energy Requirements for Delaware Utilities
Introduced and Assigned to House Energy Committee, 1/19/2012: HB-247:
The bill would freeze the minimum percentage of renewable energy (Renewable Portfolio Standard - RPS) a retail-electricity supplier or municipal electric company must provide to customers at the proportion achieved as of Jan. 1, 2012. The intent of the freeze is to give policy-makers a chance to reassess the state's energy strategy in light of the many changes that have occurred over the last several years, including the failure of the Bluewater Wind off-shore wind farm project; the decrease in natural gas prices; and actions that have made Delaware power plants significantly cleaner. The freeze is also intended to allow an examination of the high cost of electricity in Delaware. The RPS mandate is currently scheduled to increase annually from 7% in compliance year 2011-2012 to 25 percent in 2025.
Text of Bill
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