Sponsored by:
Senator BOB SMITH
District 17 (Middlesex and Somerset)
Senator CHRISTOPHER "KIP" BATEMAN
District 16 (Morris and Somerset)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senators Buono and Gordon
SYNOPSIS
Requires State entities to purchase biofuels in place of fossil fuels when reasonable, prudent and cost effective.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Senate Environment and Energy Committee on July 19, 2010, with amendments.
An Act concerning biofuels and supplementing 1[P.L.2007, c.112 (C.26:2C-37)] Title 52 of the Revised Statutes1 .
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Legislature finds and declares that:
a. New Jersey is one of the leading states in the nation in the advancement of alternative energy technologies.
b. Attaining independence from our traditional reliance on petroleum-based fossil fuels has been a long-standing objective for the State.
c. Reducing our fossil-fuel dependence by shifting to greater use of clean energy from indigenous renewable resources, such as biofuel, has the potential to significantly improve local air quality, reduce the State's dependence on foreign oil, and reduce Statewide greenhouse gas emissions.
d. It is in the public interest for the State to advance biofuel technologies by adopting policies that foster the production and purchase of biofuels as means to promote alternative energy technologies, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce reliance on petroleum-based fossil fuels.
2. As used in this act:
"Biofuel" means liquid or gaseous fuels produced from organic sources such as 1[biomass] sustainably grown and harvested crops including native noninvasive energy1 crops, agricultural residues and 1[oil crops such as palm oil,] non-recycled organic waste including1 waste cooking oil, grease and food wastes, 1[and]1 sewage and 1[landfill wastes] algae1 .
1"Energy crops" means crops grown exclusively for energy production, including switchgrass and poplar.1
"State entity" means a department, agency, or office of State government, a State university or college, or an authority created by the State.
3. a. Notwithstanding the provisions of any law, rule, regulation or order to the contrary, State entities shall consider the use of biofuels to replace the use of petroleum-based fossil fuels in order to meet the State's goals of reducing dependence on fossil fuels, promoting the production and purchase of clean energy fuels, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
b. A State entity shall
purchase and use biofuels to replace
petroleum-based fossil fuels for heating equipment, or other similar combustion
systems, motor vehicles, or other motorized equipment, if the State entity
determines that the cost of biofuels for the purpose in question is the same or
less than the cost of fossil fuels for that purpose, and if the State entity
further determines that the use of biofuels to replace fossil fuels for that
purpose is reasonable, prudent and cost effective.
4. This act shall take effect immediately.