Bill Text: NJ S545 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires NJ Energy Star Homes Program incentives be available Statewide.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-01-14 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee [S545 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-S545-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
216th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2014 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator SHIRLEY K. TURNER
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
SYNOPSIS
Requires NJ Energy Star Homes Program incentives be available Statewide.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act concerning incentives for certain energy efficient residential construction, and supplementing P.L.1999, c.23 (C.48:3-49 et al.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, rule, regulation, or order to the contrary, any incentives made available by the Board of Public Utilities under the New Jersey Energy Star Homes Program shall be available for new residential construction throughout the State, and shall not be limited to areas designated for growth in the State Development and Redevelopment Plan adopted pursuant to the "State Planning Act," P.L.1985, c.398 (C.52:18A-196 et al.).
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would provide that any incentives made available by the Board of Public Utilities under the New Jersey Energy Star Homes Program for new residential construction be available Statewide and not just within areas designated for growth in the State Development and Redevelopment Plan, i.e., areas defined as Planning Area 1 (Metropolitan) or Planning Area 2 (Suburban) and designated centers.
The New Jersey Energy Star Homes Program, launched in 2001, is designed to increase the efficiency of residential new construction. The program is one of the components of the New Jersey Clean Energy Program, implemented by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) in conjunction with participating utilities. To be eligible for this program, a home must meet a performance standard of 30 percent less energy consumption than if it had been built to the national model energy code. In 2003, the program was modified to incorporate former Governor McGreevey's announced policy initiative to support development and redevelopment in smart growth areas and not subsidize growth outside of these areas. Thus, the incentives for new construction currently offered under this program by the BPU and the participating utilities are directed to homes constructed in areas designated for growth in the State Development and Redevelopment Plan. This bill would require that the incentives be available Statewide.
