Bob Smith

TRENTON – Two bills sponsored by Senator Bob Smith which would promote renewable energy systems in New Jersey homes advanced in the Legislature today.

“Renewable energy offers our best hope of cutting our reliance on foreign oil and powering our homes through environmentally-conscious means,” said Senator Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset, the Chair of the Senate Environment Committee. “Through advances in the technology and the popularity of renewable energy sources, such as solar panels or wind or water generators, these systems have become far more common in homes across the Garden State. New Jersey should adopt initiatives which promote this technology, and protect our natural resources.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Bob Smith which would limit homeowners’ associations from regulating the placement of solar panels on home roofs was approved today by the Senate by a vote of 37-0, receiving final legislative approval.

“Solar panels have become a popular alternative energy source, cutting down our reliance on pollution-spewing, non-renewable fuel sources,” said Senator Smith, D-Middlesex, the Chair of the Senate Environment Committee. “When a family opts to go green and install these energy-saving panels in their homes, the State should do everything in its power to encourage them. We cannot let arbitrary homeowners’ association rules stand in the way of environmentally-conscious energy decisions.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Bob Smith which would establish a municipal consolidation commission to recommend mergers and shared services in order to cut the cost of government in New Jersey was signed into law today by Governor Corzine.

“New Jersey’s highest in the nation property taxes are a direct result of inefficient bureaucracy and wasteful duplication of services,” said Senator Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset, the co-chair of a panel to review regionalization and shared services during the Legislature’s Special Session. “We need the municipal consolidation commission to point out opportunities to merge and share services, because we cannot afford the many layers of government we have in the Garden State. With the commission pointing the way, there will be a greater emphasis on regionalization and shared services, and that will translate into greater savings for the taxpayers of this State.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Bob Smith which would promote renewable energy systems in New Jersey homes was unanimously approved today by the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee.

“As heating and energy costs continue to rise, many homeowners are looking to renewable energy to offset or eliminate the cost of maintaining their homes,” said Senator Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset, the Chair of the Senate Environment Committee. “Home renewable energy systems have the added benefit of conserving natural resources, reducing our reliance on foreign oil, and taking advantage of cleaner energy sources. New Jersey should do everything it can to support homeowners who are making the effort to go green.”

TRENTON – Two bills sponsored by Senator Bob Smith which would promote renewable energy systems in New Jersey homes were approved by the Senate Economic Growth Committee yesterday.

“Tapping into renewable energy sources to help offset home heating and energy costs is the wave of the future, and New Jersey should do all it can to support green-minded homeowners,” said Senator Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset, the Chair of the Senate Environment Committee. “These programs will go a long way to make expensive alternative energy home systems a reality, and put the Garden State at the forefront of efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions and conserve natural resources.”

TRENTON – Senator Bob Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset, the Chair of the Senate Environment Committee, issued the following statement today regarding a hearing his panel conducted on the possibility of establishing an electronic waste management program in New Jersey:

“Today’s hearing highlighted the massive problem New Jersey faces in terms of electronic waste. Every year, 2 million TVs and 400,000 computers become obsolete and enter our waste stream, where chemical components seep into our air, land and water.