Bill Text: NJ S793 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Encourages purchase of NJ solar panels and wind turbines for State projects and State-funded projects.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2010-10-07 - Received in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly State Government Committee [S793 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-S793-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
214th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2010 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator FRED H. MADDEN, JR.
District 4 (Camden and Gloucester)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senator Beach
SYNOPSIS
Encourages purchase of NJ solar panels and wind turbines for State projects and State-funded projects.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act concerning solar panel and wind turbine purchases, and supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary, any contract for the purchase of solar panels, wind turbines, related solar or wind energy devices, or related services to be paid with or out of State funds, or in whole or in part with a grant or loan provided by the State to a governmental entity, shall be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder having its principal place of business in New Jersey or who uses a majority of parts manufactured or produced in the State in the assembly of a final product, unless the head of the department, or other public officer charged with the duty by law, shall determine that it would be inconsistent with the public interest, the cost would be unreasonable, or the products or materials of the class or kind to be used are not produced or manufactured, as the case may be, in the State in commercial quantities and of a satisfactory quality.
b. The Department of the Treasury, in consultation with the Board of Public Utilities, shall (1) adopt, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), any rules and regulations necessary to implement this act, (2) establish a list of solar and wind energy devices, such as anemometers, designated as eligible for the purposes of subsection a. of this section, and (3) establish a list of related services, such as installation or retrofitting, designated as eligible for the purposes of subsection a. of this section.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill grants a preference to New Jersey businesses in the awarding of State contracts for solar panels, wind turbines, other related solar and wind energy devices, or related services and thereby further supports "green" businesses and jobs in the State.
This bill provides that any contract for the purchase of solar panels, wind turbines, other related solar and wind energy devices, or related services to be paid with or out of State funds, or in whole or in part by a grant or loan from the State to a governmental entity, would be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder having its principal place of business in New Jersey or who uses a majority of parts manufactured or produced in the State for the assembly of a final product, unless the head of the department, or other public officer charged with the duty by law, determines that it would be inconsistent with the public interest, the cost would be unreasonable, or the products or materials of the class or kind to be used are not produced or manufactured, as the case may be, in the State in commercial quantities and of a satisfactory quality
The Department of the Treasury, in consultation with the Board of Public Utilities, would be required to adopt rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this bill, including establishing a list of eligible solar and wind energy devices, such as anemometers, and establishing a list of eligible related services, such as installation or retrofitting.
Other states are creating incentives or negotiating purchasing agreements in order to increase the use of renewable energy and encourage the growth of green businesses in their respective states. In one instance, under a multi-million dollar procurement deal in Illinois, Solargenix agreed to locate in Chicago and create direct manufacturing jobs and support other Chicago businesses that provide equipment, materials, engineering, and field services. As part of that commitment, the city and its partners agreed to organize and fund promotional and educational programs, such as training, and Chicago would use Solargenix's products on city-owned properties such as parks, swimming pools, housing, fire departments, correctional facilities, and hospitals.
