New Jersey-2022-AR153-Introduced

An Assembly Resolution recognizing and honoring the critical energy and utility infrastructure workforce for their service during the COVID-19 pandemic and recent extreme weather events.

Whereas, Among the individuals tasked with keeping the State safe and functioning during the COVID-19 pandemic were those employed in the critical energy and utility infrastructure workforce; and

Whereas, The assets, systems, and networks, whether physical or virtual, that comprise critical energy and utility infrastructure in New Jersey are considered so vital to the State that their incapacitation or destruction would have a debilitating effect on public health and safety, security, and the economy; and

Whereas, With many residents sheltering in place during the COVID-19 pandemic, residential water, gas, and energy consumption increased; and

Whereas, Based on data obtained from the United States Energy Information Administration, New Jersey's residential energy consumption increased 11.8 percent from the second quarter of 2019 to the second quarter of 2020; and

Whereas, The increase in residential energy and utility consumption, especially during non-traditional hours, placed an enormous strain on existing energy and utility infrastructure and the critical infrastructure workforce; and

Whereas, Through innovation, perseverance, and dedication, the New Jersey critical energy and utility infrastructure workforce was able to successfully stabilize increased residential utility service demand, while also working to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by following social distancing guidelines; and

Whereas, The already-challenging task of managing the unprecedented demand in residential energy and utility service due to the COVID-19 pandemic was further compounded by several extreme weather events that occurred during 2020 and 2021; and

Whereas, July 2020 was the hottest month ever recorded in New Jersey, causing spikes in electricity demand as New Jerseyans sought to cool their homes; and

Whereas, The record-setting heat wave was immediately followed by Tropical Storm Isaias on August 4, 2020, which left approximately 1.4 million households without power; and

Whereas, In the midst of the still-raging global COVID-19 pandemic, the critical energy and utility infrastructure workforce across the State worked diligently to restore power to almost all affected New Jersey customers within a week of the tropical storm; and

Whereas, On September 1, 2021, the second-deadliest storm in New Jersey's history, Tropical Storm Ida, ripped across the State, leaving 30 New Jerseyans dead and causing billions of dollars in property damage; and

Whereas, The critical energy and utility infrastructure workforce was deployed around the clock in the wake of Tropical Storm Ida to mitigate widespread flooding, restore power, and stop reported gas leaks that could have led to further casualties and damage; and

Whereas, The dedicated, hardworking individuals that make up New Jersey's critical energy and utility infrastructure workforce, through their steadfast service during an unprecedented global pandemic and several extreme weather events, have earned our highest respect and deepest gratitude; and

Whereas, It is therefore fitting and proper to recognize and honor the dedicated and invaluable service of the critical energy and utility infrastructure workforce and their invaluable efforts to safeguard this State's public health and safety, security, and economy during the COVID-19 pandemic and recent extreme weather events; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. This House recognizes and honors the dedicated and invaluable service provided by the critical energy and utility infrastructure workforce of New Jersey during the COVID-19 pandemic and recent extreme weather events.

2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of the State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the Governor of this State and to every member of Congress elected from this State.

STATEMENT

This resolution recognizes and honors the critical energy and utility infrastructure workforce in New Jersey for their service during the COVID-19 pandemic and recent extreme weather events. According to data collected by the United States Energy Information Administration, residential energy consumption in New Jersey increased by 11.8 percent from the second quarter of 2019 to the second quarter of 2020. These shifts in demand placed an increased burden on the energy and utility companies that operate within the State and their employees. Despite the challenges posed by increasing residential utility demand during the global COVID-19 pandemic, the critical energy and utility infrastructure workforce rose to the challenge and was able to effectively stabilize residential energy and utility demand in the State.

Further compounding the novel challenges posed by providing energy and utilities during the COVID-19 pandemic were several extreme weather events that occurred in the State within the last two years. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, New Jersey has experienced its hottest month on record, second deadliest storm, and largest power outage since Superstorm Sandy in 2012. In each case, energy and utility workers responded with dedication and courage, oftentimes being dispatched into extreme weather, to serve the emergent needs of the State.