ACR151

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman PATRICK J. DIEGNAN, JR.

District 18 (Middlesex)

Assemblyman TIM EUSTACE

District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)

Assemblyman BENJIE E. WIMBERLY

District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)

Assemblyman JAMES J. KENNEDY

District 22 (Middlesex, Somerset and Union)

Senator PATRICK J. DIEGNAN, JR.

District 18 (Middlesex)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblyman Coughlin and Senator Gordon

SYNOPSIS

Urges construction of microgrids at municipal facilities in New Jersey.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

As introduced.

A concurrent Resolution urging the construction of microgrids at municipal facilities in this State.

Whereas, In October of 2012, Superstorm Sandy left many locations in this State, including public facilities, without electricity for up to several weeks; and

Whereas, The power outages following Superstorm Sandy devastated New Jersey’s residents and businesses; and

Whereas, Microgrids are small, interconnected electrical networks using on-site power generation to operate in conjunction with or independent of the larger electric grid and provide electricity during power outages; and

Whereas, Facilities powered by microgrids can help provide shelter and a sense of normalcy in the aftermath of a natural disaster that results in power outages; and

Whereas, While the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) has created an energy resilience bank that operates under federal qualification criteria for the financing of microgrids, non-qualifying municipalities in this State lack the necessary funds to construct microgrids on their own; and

Whereas, As of 2015, there has not been a single municipality that has completed the construction of a microgrid; and

Whereas, Microgrids are a key component of this State’s plan to promote energy resiliency; and

Whereas, The construction of microgrids at municipal facilities is necessary to provide shelter for and ensure the safety of the residents of this State in the event that a future natural disaster results in power outages; and

Whereas, It is altogether fitting and proper for the Legislature, and in public interest, to support the expansion of microgrid construction in this State by urging the BPU and the EDA to support the establishment of microgrids at municipal facilities in order to achieve energy resilience; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey (the Senate Concurring):

1. The Legislature respectfully urges the New Jersey Economic Development Authority and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to facilitate the construction of microgrids at municipal facilities in this State in order to achieve energy resilience.

2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly and the Secretary of the Senate to the Commissioners of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, and the Executive Team and Board Members of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.

STATEMENT

This resolution urges the construction of microgrids at municipal facilities in this State.

In October of 2012, Superstorm Sandy left many locations in this State, including public facilities, without electricity for up to several weeks. The power outages following Superstorm Sandy devastated New Jersey’s residents and businesses.

Microgrids are small, interconnected electrical networks using on-site power generation to operate in conjunction with or independent of the larger electric grid and provide electricity during power outages. Facilities powered by microgrids can help provide shelter and a sense of normalcy in the aftermath of a natural disaster that results in power outages.

While the New Jersey Economic Development Authority has created an energy resilience bank that operates under federal qualification criteria for the financing of microgrids, non-qualifying municipalities in this State lack the necessary funds to construct microgrids on their own. As of 2015, there has not been a single municipality that has completed the construction of a microgrid.

The construction of microgrids at municipal facilities is necessary to provide shelter for and ensure the safety of the residents of this State in the event that a future natural disaster results in power outages.