By Greg Gorman • Chair of the Conservation Committee
In a recent interview on Morning Joe, Arnold Schwarzenegger—the opening speaker for the 10th Austrian World Summit—made the point that fossil fuel air pollution kills more people per year than climate change. Statistics support his claim. The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation estimates that approximately 7 million people die each year from air pollution. Climate change is currently causing 315,000 deaths each year through hunger, sickness, and weather disasters, plus an estimated 400,000 deaths due to hunger and diseases related to climate change—total 715,000.
Regarding energy price increases, there were 18 states that saw year-over-year percentage increases in the double digits. New Jersey was in second place with an 18.2% rise. The sharp rate hikes here are the result of PJM Interconnection’s capacity auction system, supply shortages, renewable project delays, and booming data center construction, all compounded by global energy cost pressures. Without faster grid upgrades, more renewable interconnections, and better demand forecasting, prices are likely to keep rising.
Although expensive, upgrading the electric grid is essential. The effort is needed to replace an aging infrastructure, meet growing demand, integrate clean energy, withstand climate impacts, and ensure reliable, affordable, and secure power for the 21st century. The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) oversees utility plans for grid modernization, including deployment of advanced sensors, monitoring systems, and advanced metering infrastructure to improve outage detection, customer service, and real-time energy management.
One bill we are following in the Legislature is NJ S657/A6153, which would require electric public utilities to develop and implement grid modernization plans and appropriate $300 million in grants to electric public utilities for the purpose of providing financial relief to ratepayers for rate increases caused by the implementation of a grid modernization plan.
We need more renewable interconnections to reduce electricity costs. Once solar panels are installed, generating additional electricity is nearly free. The same can be said for offshore wind. Renewable energy deployment in Europe has reduced wholesale electricity prices and mitigated price volatility, while providing substantial consumer savings. Fortunately, Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s Executive Order No. 2 directs the BPU to accelerate the development of “distributed,” utility-scale solar electricity generation. Distributed solar includes residential, school, and corporate solar arrays. If allowed to proliferate, these individual solar generators could add up to utility scale energy production.
According to the state Department of Environmental Protection, “New Jersey has one of the most ambitious renewable portfolio standards in the country by requiring [that] 35% of the energy sold in the state come from qualifying energy sources by 2025 and 50% by 2030. New Jersey has also enacted aggressive offshore wind targets, calling for 11,000 MW by 2040, and new solar targets,” although the future of offshore wind energy in New Jersey is in limbo because of federal obstruction.
There are alternative strategies that can be utilized to defer or avoid expensive grid upgrades:
No-wire solutions: These include asking consumers to use less electricity during periods of peak demand, battery energy storage, micro-grid development, finding ways of using excess heat created during energy creation, and conservation and energy efficiency measures. These approaches are already employed by NJ grid operators to manage supply resources.
-Grid enhancing technologies are tools that help the existing electric grid carry more power more efficiently and reliably. These include software, monitoring systems, and devices that improve the flow of electricity. Another option is upgrading existing power lines with advanced conductors that can carry more electricity without building new transmission infrastructure. Gov. Sherrill recently signed the Advanced Grid Technologies Act (S4411/A5188), which requires state oversight of supplemental transmission projects and expedites review processes for projects that utilize advanced transmission or distribution technologies.
Despite the impediments imposed by presidential policy, New Jersey has taken action to increase clean energy and to lower our electric bills. You can do your part. First, stop burning oil, natural gas, and coal, or at least reduce your consumption of fossil fuel. Electrification (i.e., electric stoves rather than gas) of your home and transportation is cost effective and technically feasible. If you can, install solar panels or enroll in a community solar project. Second, ask your legislators to support Gov. Sherrill’s initiatives both in Trenton and Washington.
Resources:
Community solar: https://shorturl.at/VMzjC
Virtual power plants: https://shorturl.at/DmCBX