Jul 10, 2008 7:35 pm US/Eastern
N.J. About To Become 'Wind Turbine State'?
Proposal On Table To Add More Off-Shore Turbines In The Hope Of Dramatically Reducing Energy Consumption
SECAUCUS, N.J. (CBS) ―
When you've got a bunch of politicians blowing hot air, you usually don't get much accomplished. But there was an exception to the rule Thursday in New Jersey – where lawmakers are trying to empower and re-energize the state using wind power.
You have probably seen the wind farm in Atlantic City. It's located on the county utility authority's water treatment facility, where it not only helps power the plant but also provides power back to an electrical grid to light up several city blocks.
This kind of energy, Assemblyman John McKeon told the state's Board of Public Utilities on Thursday, has to be part of the solution to New Jersey's energy needs over the next decades.
"Ultimately it is a cheap and renewable source that will make New Jersey not only a leader, but economically vital in the future," said McKeon, D-Essex County.
McKeon's proposal is one to answer Gov. Jon Corzine's energy master plan, which sets a goal of reducing energy consumption by at least 20 percent by the year 2020.
Ann Hoskins is with utility company PSE & G, which has proposed its own pilot program to build more wind farms off New Jersey's shores.
"Where we would build 96 wind turbines 16 miles off the shore in south Jersey to start the process of bringing off-shore wind energy to New Jersey," Hoskins said.
Some environmentalists have already raised concerns about the effects turbines could have on marine life, and there are those who believe wind farms like this could destroy ocean views.
"If we don't act now and make changes in 10 years we're going to see life as we know it in New Jersey, the country and the world just change in light of the effects of global warming," McKeon said.
The president of the Board of Public Utilities says a number of agencies are studying to see if wind power is environmentally sound and that no decision will be made until they have all of the facts.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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