STATE OF NEW JERSEY
214th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2010 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman DAVID P. RIBLE
District 11 (Monmouth)
Assemblyman JON M. BRAMNICK
District 21 (Essex, Morris, Somerset and Union)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes State Energy Council.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act creating a State Energy Council.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. There is established in the Department of the Treasury a State Energy Council. The council shall consist of seven members as follows:
(1) the State Treasurer, or the Treasurer's designee;
(2) the Director of Energy Savings established pursuant to Executive Order No.11 of 2006;
(3) the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, or the commissioner's designee;
(4) the President of the Board of Public Utilities, or the president's designee; and
(5) three members of the public appointed by the Governor, with the advise and consent of the Senate, who possess expertise regarding energy conservation measures and practices.
b. The Governor shall appoint the chairperson of the council. The council shall hold its first meeting as soon as practicable after the appointment of the public members.
c The council may meet and hold hearings at the times and places it designates.
d. The council may call upon any department, office, division, or agency of State government as it may require and as may be available to it for its purposes, and employ stenographic and clerical assistance and incur traveling or other miscellaneous expenses as may be necessary in order to perform its duties, within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to it for its purposes.
e. Any vacancy in the membership of the council shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
2. a. The State Energy Council shall examine all areas of State government and identify opportunities to conserve energy and become more energy efficient. The council shall focus on identifying means for the State to become more energy efficient and reduce its energy consumption, and ways for the State to become more environmentally responsible in regards to its energy usage through the development of best practices for energy usage and energy conservation.
b. Within one year after its first meeting, the council shall submit a report, to the Governor and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), with its findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Copies of the report shall also be provided to the public upon request and free of charge. The report shall also be posted on the Internet websites of the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Environmental Protection, and the Board of Public Utilities.
3. This act shall take effect immediately, and shall expire on the 60th day after the submittal of the report required pursuant to subsection b. of section 2 of this act.
STATEMENT
This bill would establish a State Energy Council in the Department of the Treasury. The council would consist of seven members as follows: the State Treasurer, or the Treasurer's designee; the Director of Energy Savings established pursuant to Executive Order No.11 of 2006; the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, or the commissioner's designee; the President of the Board of Public Utilities, or the president's designee; and three members of the public appointed by the Governor, with the advise and consent of the Senate, who possess expertise regarding energy conservation measures and practices.
The council would examine all areas of State government and identify opportunities to conserve energy and become more energy efficient. The council would focus on identifying means for the State to become more energy efficient and reduce its energy consumption, and ways for the State to become more environmentally responsible in regards to its energy usage through the development of best practices for energy usage and energy conservation.
The council, within one year after its first meeting, would submit a report, to the Governor and to the Legislature, with its findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Copies of the report would also be provided to the public upon request and free of charge, and posted on the Internet websites of the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Environmental Protection, and the Board of Public Utilities. The council would dissolve 60 days after the submittal of its report.