Bill Text: NJ A3018 | 2022-2023 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires NJ Clean Energy Program incentives be made available to commercial farms.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-02-28 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Agriculture and Food Security Committee [A3018 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2022-A3018-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman RONALD S. DANCER
District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Requires NJ Clean Energy Program incentives be made available to commercial farms.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning energy efficiency incentives for commercial farms 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. a. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, or any rule, regulation, or order adopted pursuant thereto, to the contrary, the owner of a commercial farm shall be eligible to apply for, and receive, any applicable incentives made available by the Board of Public Utilities through the New Jersey Clean Energy Program with funding provided by the societal benefits charge that is imposed pursuant to section 12 of P.L.1999, c.23 (C.48:3-60).
b. The Board of Public Utilities, in consultation with the Department of Agriculture, shall establish a program to encourage or assist the owners of commercial farms to conduct energy audits to identify the current energy use of buildings and equipment and identify energy conservation measures that can be implemented in order to realize and maximize energy savings and energy efficiency.
c. The Board of Public Utilities shall publish on its Internet website any incentives and programs that are available to the owners of commercial farms pursuant to this section.
d. As used in this section:
"Commercial farm" means the same as the term is defined at P.L.1983, c.31 (C.4:1C-3).
"Energy audit" means an assessment of all energy-using systems to determine the consumption characteristics of a commercial farm which shall (1) identify the type, size, and rate of energy consumption of a commercial farm; (2) identify appropriate energy conservation maintenance and operating procedures; and (3) indicate the need, if any, for the acquisition and installation of energy conservation measures.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
The bill would allow the owners of commercial farms to be eligible to apply for, and receive, any applicable incentives made available by the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) through the New Jersey Clean Energy Program (NJCEP).
In addition, the bill would require the BPU, in consultation with the Department of Agriculture, to establish a program to encourage or assist the owners of commercial farms to conduct energy audits to identify the current energy use of buildings and equipment and identify energy conservation measures that can be implemented in order to realize and maximize energy savings and energy efficiency. The bill defines "energy audit" as an assessment of all energy-using systems to determine the consumption characteristics of a commercial farm which shall (1) identify the type, size, and rate of energy consumption of a commercial farm; (2) identify appropriate energy conservation maintenance and operating procedures; and (3) indicate the need, if any, for the acquisition and installation of energy conservation measures.
The bill would also require the BPU to publish on its Internet website any incentives or programs that are available to the owners of commercial farms under the NJCEP and information concerning the program established by the BPU, pursuant to the bill, to encourage or assist the owners of commercial farms in conducting energy audits.
Currently, commercial farms do not fit clearly into the incentive programs offered by the NJCEP, which is divided into categories for residential, commercial, industrial, local government, and multifamily. A farmhouse or residential dwelling on farmland would be eligible for incentives offered in the residential category of the NJCEP since the farmhouse or dwelling qualifies as a residence, however, there are no additional incentives or programs specifically available to the owners of commercial farms under the NJCEP. The bill would allow the owners of commercial farms to participate in the NJCEP and receive applicable incentives under the program while improving the energy efficiency of their farms.
