Recommendations on New Jersey’s Energy Master Plan

Immediately after the release of the 2011 Draft Energy Master Plan (EMP) in June, the N.J. Board of Public Utilitities asked the N.J. Work Group on Renewable Natural Gas, spearheaded by Energy Vision and co-chaired by Gail Richardson (with Rutgers EcoComplex) to form the “Biomass Work Group” and provide input on the EMP, especially on this question: What can the State do to incentivize the development of biomass resources to allow this category of renewables to “compete” with other renewables?

 

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For the first time ever, the N.J. Energy Master Plan includes proposals for the transportation sector. Of special significance, it strongly promotes a shift of medium- and heavy-duty trucks and buses to natural gas fuel.  Major benefits of a further shift from natural gas fuel to the renewable form of natural gas (RNG) made from wastes is emphasized in the Biomass Work Group, pages 19 to 23.

 

More generally, the Biomass Work Group recommends that the N.J. Energy Master Plan feature a Biomass Power & Fuels Initiative to speed up construction and operation of plants built by public-private partnerships to produce renewable power and vehicle fuel from the state’s waste streams. Multiple sites where RNG could be produced in the State of New Jersey will be featured in a forthcoming report by Energy Vision. This information will help communities spot and pursue prospects to produce RNG, the most climate-friendly fuel available.