TRENTON — In a morning new conference, Gov. Chris Christie will unveil his long-delayed blueprint for how New Jersey should produce electricity in the future, known as the Energy Master Plan, according to sources with knowledge of the announcement. The plan outlines how the state will meet its energy demands while keeping costs down and protecting the environment, according...
N.J. Gov. Chris Christie, pictured in this June 6 photo, is set to unveil his 'Energy Master Plan" in a news conference today. TRENTON — In a morning new conference, Gov. Chris Christie will unveil his long-delayed blueprint for how New Jersey should produce electricity in the future, known as the Energy Master Plan, according to sources with knowledge of the announcement.
The plan outlines how the state will meet its energy demands while keeping costs down and protecting the environment, according to the sources, who requested anonymity because they are not authorized to speak in advance of the announcement.
Environmental groups will hold a rebuttal press conference at 12:15 p.m. at the Statehouse.
Christie began working on revisions to the plan as soon as he took office, but the final version has been delayed for months. Christie said the most recent delay was to give planners time to take into account the announcement this winter that the Oyster Creek nuclear power plant will close in 2019, 10 years ahead of schedule.
In the plan, Christie will likely address the future of nuclear energy in the state, the role of renewable energy such as solar and wind, and the need to build three new natural gas power plants. The plan will be used by state departments, lawmakers and industry as a guide to developing energy policy and law in the future.
During his campaign for governor, Christie vowed to be “New Jersey’s No. 1 clean energy advocate.”
Christie previewed a portion of the plan last month when he said he will pull the state out of a landmark regional program aimed at cutting power plant emissions of carbon dioxide, a gas known to contribute to climate change. He said the 10-state partnership was “gimmicky” and a “failure.”
Dismayed critics derided the governor for the move, calling it a token gesture to conservatives nationwide who staunchly oppose such carbon-reduction programs – known as “cap and trade” – as nothing but a tax on industry and consumers.
The initiative was one of several ways the state aimed to reduce power plant emissions of greenhouse gases – those that contribute to climate change – to 1990 levels by 2020.
As of 2008, the state had already met that target, according to a recent report by the Department of Environmental Protection.
By Christopher Baxter/Statehouse Bureau and Ginger Gibson/Statehouse Bureau.
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