STATE OF NEW JERSEY
215th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2012 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman REED GUSCIORA
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Assemblyman PETER J. BARNES, III
District 18 (Middlesex)
Assemblyman ALBERT COUTINHO
District 29 (Essex)
Assemblywoman BONNIE WATSON COLEMAN
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Assemblyman RALPH R. CAPUTO
District 28 (Essex)
Assemblyman THOMAS P. GIBLIN
District 34 (Essex and Passaic)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywomen Lampitt, Wagner, Assemblymen Prieto, Mainor, DeAngelo, Assemblywoman Quijano and Assemblyman Ramos
SYNOPSIS
Requires the incorporation of solar panels in design and construction of new public school facilities.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act concerning the design and construction of new public schools and supplementing P.L.2000, c.72 (C.18A:7G-1 et al.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Commissioner of Education shall not approve an application for the construction of a new school facility pursuant to the provisions of section 5 of P.L.2000, c.72 (C.18A:7G-5) unless the design and construction of the facility incorporates solar panels. The provisions of this section shall be applicable to a new school facility constructed by a school district or by the New Jersey Schools Development Authority.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill provides that the Commissioner of Education may not approve an application for the construction of a new school facility under the provisions of the "Educational Facilities Construction and Financing Act," P.L.2000, c.72, unless the design and construction of the facility incorporates solar panels. This requirement would be applicable to a new school facility constructed by either a school district or the New Jersey Schools Development Authority.
Generating electricity through solar panels is good for the community and the environment. The use of solar power means less consumption of fossil fuels, reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from local power plants. A solar power system can also reduce or eliminate a school building's electric bill. Installing a solar power system is equivalent to prepaying for 40 years of power at a fraction of the current cost. As energy rates increase this difference will only increase, leading to escalating savings for the school district over the life of the system.