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PISCATAWAY – A bill sponsored by Senators Teresa Ruiz and Bob Gordon which authorizes the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to invest in energy cost savings programs for industrial and commercial energy consumers was signed into law today by Governor Corzine at a public bill signing ceremony at the Busch Cogeneration Facility at Rutgers University’s Busch campus.

“Clean, renewable energy and co-generation grants make New Jersey much more attractive to business investors and represent the future in environmentally-friendly energy production,” said Senator Ruiz, D-Essex and Union, and a member of the Senate Economic Growth Committee. “Particularly as we work to encourage businesses to locate to the Garden State, these programs will reduce our carbon footprint and lower energy costs for consumers across the board. I applaud the Governor for working with us to promote energy alternatives and for making New Jersey a national leader in low-impact energy production which will revitalize our economy and preserve our natural resources for future generations.”

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Teresa Ruiz and Robert M. Gordon which would create a grant program to encourage the use of Cogeneration/Combined Heat and Power (CHP) was unanimously approved today by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.

Under the bill, CHP is defined as the use of a combined heat engine or a power station to simultaneously generate both electricity and heat. CHP plants utilize the heat that comes from electricity generation and use it for industrial or domestic heating needs.

“As energy costs continue to increase, it is imperative that we find new, more affordable energy sources,” said Senator Ruiz, D-Essex and Union. “The grants would be funded through this legislation, and would allow businesses to develop combined heat and power energy, which would help to cut down on costs and spur healthy competition within the State’s energy market.”

“The goal of this legislation is to encourage businesses to generate their own energy, thereby reducing the State’s overall energy demands,” said Senator Gordon, D-Bergen. “In addition to compelling companies to try new energy sources, this legislation would help to develop New Jersey’s Cogeneration market, and help keep our State at the forefront of energy innovation.”