Solar Alliance: Governor Christie's Draft Energy Master Plan Missed the Mark

TRENTON, N.J., Aug. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Today the Solar Alliance filed comments on New Jersey's Energy Master Plan. The comments from the Solar Alliance address faulty analysis, which resulted in erroneous conclusions about the merits of New Jersey's Solar Renewable Energy Credit (SREC) program to date and its future potential.

"While the Draft EMP successfully lays out New Jersey's energy needs, it excludes solar as an energy source and investment opportunity. Further it contains factual inaccuracies. The type of rigorous analysis encouraged by the EMP must be based on the best and most current information available and not on lingering stereotypes," said Carrie Cullen Hitt, President of the Solar Alliance.  

The Solar Alliance agreed with EMP's focus on rigorous "net economic benefit" analysis but noted the current draft does not apply this consistently. Regarding solar, some costs are outdated or misconstrued while some benefits have been overlooked or de-emphasized.

A few examples:

• The BPU should quantify all value streams associated with solar when applying a 'net economic benefit test';
• The EMP should use updated, universally recognized cost estimates of solar technology; and
• The EMP should reassess its interpretation of the rate impact of the SREC Program, which is less than 1/2 percent.

Hitt added, "We may debate the methodology for measuring benefits of solar, but their existence is undeniable and their omission from the Draft EMP extremely disappointing.  This unfortunately leads to an incomplete picture of the role that solar can play in creating jobs, new investment and clean, reliable electricity for New Jersey."

For example, preliminary data from a forthcoming Solar Foundation National Solar Jobs Census shows New Jersey has almost 4,000 solar workers.  

"The Solar Alliance commends the Governor, his Staff and the BPU for their substantial effort in the 2011 Draft EMP.  However, we believe the analysis has left out important economic and social benefits. As currently drafted, the EMP will restrict New Jersey solar businesses from creating jobs and deploying clean, reliable solar electricity," said Hitt.

About the Solar Alliance

The Solar Alliance is a 501 6c trade organization representing over thirty companies involved in financing, development and installation of solar projects across the United States. We work with state policymakers to develop cost effective solar markets.

SOURCE Solar Alliance