Category: CONSUMER NEWS

NJ Announces Offshore Wind Solicitation Schedule of 7,500 MW through 2035

Commitment Demonstrates New Jersey’s Leadership on Offshore Wind

TRENTON

– Governor Phil Murphy recently announced the offshore wind solicitation schedule to meet the 7,500 megawatt (MW) offshore wind goal by 2035 and called upon the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to take all

necessary actions to implement the schedule. These projects will deliver the clean, renewable energy generation needed to meet the State’s goals of 50 percent renewable energy by 2030 and a 100 percent clean energy economy by 2050. Reaching 7,500 MW will generate enough electricity to power more than 3.2 million homes and meet fifty percent of the state’s electric power need, while supporting an offshore wind industry that will generate billions of dollars in investments in New Jersey’s future and create thousands of jobs.

“Several months ago, I committed the State of New Jersey to 7,500 MW of offshore wind by 2035, as a critical component of achieving 100 percent clean energy by 2050,”

said Governor Murphy.

“By announcing this planned solicitation schedule, we are demonstrating to our partners in industry and labor that we are committed to implementing this process in a thoughtful way that ensures economic growth for the New Jersey.”

“Not only was Governor Murphy the first to embrace 100 percent clean energy, he has been a national leader when it comes to recognizing the importance of offshore wind,”

said New Jersey Board of Public Utilities President Joseph L. Fiordaliso.

“New Jersey opened the largest single-state solicitation, is building a supply chain that will support projects up and down the east coast and is poised to double our offshore wind capacity. Guided by our new Energy Master Plan, offshore wind is a critical component in realizing the Governor’s vision of 100 percent clean energy by 2050 and ensuring our planet survives for future generations.”

The proposed schedule calls for the next 1,200 MW solicitation to be opened by September 2020, with an award made by second quarter of 2021. Setting a solicitation schedule through 2035 provides a crucial level of certainty for developers, original equipment manufacturers, and the supply chain.

To be responsive to the evolving market, the schedule has been developed to provide flexibility in terms of the amount being procured with each solicitation and the exact timeline. There are a number of factors that could influence the timing and the quantity to be procured including transmission solutions and development schedule, the status of additional lease areas, permitting, port readiness, establishment of a supply chain, workforce training, and cost trends.

Proposed OSW Solicitation Schedule through 2035

Solicitation

Capacity Target MW

Issue Date

Submittal Date

Award Date

Estimated Commercial Operation Date

1

1,100

Q3 2018

Q4 2018

Q2 2019

2024

2

1,200

Q3 2020

Q4 2020

Q2 2021

2027

3

1,200

Q3 2022

Q4 2022

Q2 2023

2029

4

1,200

Q2 2024

Q3 2024

Q1 2025

2031

5

1,400

Q2 2026

Q3 2026

Q1 2027

2033

6

1,400

Q1 2028

Q3 2028

Q1 2029

2035

In January 2018, Governor Murphy signed Executive Order No. 8, which directed NJBPU to fully implement the Offshore Wind Economic Development Act and begin the process of moving the state toward a goal of 3,500 MW of offshore wind by the year 2030. In response, New Jersey Board Public Utilities issued a solicitation for 1,100 MW of offshore wind and awarded Ørsted with the largest single state contract in June 2019. Ørsted expects this first project to be operational by 2024.

On November 19, 2019, Governor Murphy issued Executive Order No. 92 directing the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and other state agencies with responsibilities arising under Offshore Wind Economic Development Act to take all necessary actions to promote the development of wind energy off the coast of New Jersey to meet a goal of 7,500 MW of offshore wind by the year 2035. This new order rescinded Paragraph 1 of Executive Order No. 8, which had established the previous goal of 3,500 MW of offshore wind.

The Future of Gambling Sponsorship in Sport

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(March 3, 2020)–It goes without saying that bookmakers are inextricably linked with various sports events. Moreover, betting companies have significantly influenced the popularity of some sports. The profitability of some sporting events sometimes reaches several billion dollars. Thanks to this, many companies and clubs can earn significant financial support from sports advertising, ticket sales, gadgets, and so on. Bookmakers strive to promote their brands and ensure a stable income so they sign partnership contracts with many sports clubs. One can frequently see the logos of gambling companies on the T-shirts of the most popular football players, on banners at stadiums, and in other places. However, it would be wrong to deny the fact that gambling in sports really supports athletic events by investing money in world contests. Indeed, it actually helps to promote an active lifestyle among the population even though betting businesses gain profits.

Vulkan Vegas, bet365, and other betting companies as sponsors of Premier League teams

In the UK, bookmakers have long gone beyond the narrow framework of providing their services in their hometowns. Large British betting companies are not just entering the national arena, they are also challenging European leadership. Companies such as

Vulkan Vegas

, bet365, and many others already support a large variety of football clubs in England and Europe as a whole. However, the gambling business cannot yet compete with the world\’s richest titans. For example, Manchester United is sponsored by General Motors, which bought the right to place the name of its Chevrolet car brand on the club’s shirts. Their neighbors, Manchester City, also have a rich supporter – the airline from the Emirates,

Etihad Airways

, which had enough money to buy the name of the stadium.

Sponsorship of mid-range teams

Gambling companies do not yet have such budgets to approach the richest clubs in the league. However, with the mid-range teams, they are already able to reach agreements. At a time when

Tottenham Hotspur

had not yet shown the high results it has in recent years, its partner was Mansion.com and this logo appeared on the team’s shirts from 2006 to 2010. This gambling operator, registered in Gibraltar, began its activities with online casinos and poker but has recently become interested in bookmaking.

The most successful sports and gambling collaboration in England is an agreement between bet365 and Stoke City. Gambling company has managed to not only become the official sponsor of Stoke City in 2012 but also to redeem the right for the club’s stadium to be named after this bookmaker in 2016.

Second division clubs

Championship clubs frequently work with bookmakers. Most of them have sponsorship contracts or partnerships with betting companies. Nottingham Forest has partnered with the 888sport online bookmaker. Starting from the 2017/18 season, Bolton has been placing the logo of the British betting company Betfred on its shirts. This bookmaker also collaborated from 2006 to 2013 with Manchester United as the club\’s betting partner. It seems that it will not be long before every football club in Britain has a sponsor or partner from the world of betting. Moreover, it is likely that the last strongholds of the

Premier League

will soon fall – the richest clubs in England that will not resist the temptations of the contracts offered by local gambling representatives.

The future of gambling sponsorship in sport

Gambling companies will, for sure, strive to become more deeply immersed in world sport in the next years. They invest a lot of money into sponsorship and gain even bigger profits from it. Despite the fact that not every football club is loyal to betting businesses, it is a good opportunity for weaker teams to secure financial stability and use it for improving youth academies, infrastructure, management, etc. That is why the upcoming years will definitely be the years of gambling companies sponsoring local and national teams.

Conclusion

It is impressive how gambling has incorporated itself in sport sponsorship at the world’s largest event. Currently, almost every football, basketball, or hockey club has a sponsor connected to betting. For sure, such a tendency has some negative features, since bookmakers might be able to insider sports betting, but the fact that gambling companies invest in sport, making it thrive definitely covers the drawbacks of betting sponsorship in sports.

NJNG Starts Pipeline Construction In Monmouth County

New Jersey Natural Gas has started construction on their Southern Reliability Link pipeline in Monmouth County. The pipeline is being installed on Province Line Road off of route 537 which is now closed to traffic. NJNG have put plastic fencing to protect the 300 year-old cemetery across the street on Arneytown-Hornerstown Road.

“NJNG is starting construction again in Monmouth County near New Egypt on the SRL pipeline. They are now heading into Burlington County despite the fact that we are still in court with them. They are taking open space and a historic cemetery for an unnecessary pipeline. The NJ Sierra Club is filing a response to briefs to the state and NJNG. Our concern is that we won’t have an oral argument until June or maybe even October. By the time the case is decided that the pipeline cannot be built, a majority of it will be in the ground. This pipeline will cause irreparable harm to the environment and become an economic burden to taxpayers who will have to pay to remove it. NJNG is heading towards Burlington County and it is critical that the Burlington Freeholders commit to blocking this pipeline,”

said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.

NJNG’s Southern Reliability Link will have to get approval from Burlington County for permits. The Burlington County Freeholders have the power and the justification to deny road occupancy permits for NJNG’s planned use of county roads for the pipeline. Groups are asking the Freeholder to deny NJNG’s permit to build along its county roads.

“This is a dastardly deed by NJNG. They aren’t just proceeding at their own risk; they’re risking the environment and public safety, and ratepayer’s money. That is why the Burlington County Freeholders must protect their community! NJNG is completely ignoring the rules and the role of the legal system and going ahead with their unnecessary pipeline. There will be irreparable harm by allowing for construction, digging up people’s lawn, and putting a blowtorch within feet of homes. NJNG is already cutting streets off in Monmouth and Ocean County and people cannot get to their homes. They are risking public safety by blocking traffic which is especially difficult for emergency vehicles. Burlington Freeholders need to step up and protect their residents by rejecting NJNG, they need to stop this pipeline so that we have our day in court,”

said Tittel.

The proposed Southern Reliability Link (SRL) pipeline would connect to a compressor station in Chesterfield and run 28 miles of pipe through Burlington, Monmouth, and Ocean Counties. The line would threaten ecosystems, communities, and drinking water in the Pinelands. This pipeline clearly violates the Pinelands rules because this type of infrastructure is only allowed through the Pinelands Forest Preservation Area, if it primarily serves the Pinelands, but it does not.

“The SRL would be detrimental to the Pinelands is the largest open space on the eastern seaboard and recognized for its biodiversity by the United Nations. It is also the country’s first National Reserve and holds 17 trillion gallons of water in its aquifer. We have been trying to get a stay on the SRL but that has fell on deaf ears. The New Jersey Attorney General said he represents the agencies such as the Pinelands and the BPU, but they are in support of the pipeline. This is no longer Chris Christie’s pipeline, this is Phil Murphy’s pipeline. That is why we are asking the Burlington County Freeholders to protect the Pinelands and deny NJNG’s SRL pipeline,”

said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.  “

If Governor Murphy is committed to reducing GHG’s and clean energy, why is he letting NJNG come through his own county for a destructive fossil fuel pipeline. That’s why a moratorium is so important. There is no need for the SRL pipeline other than to promote fracking and the burning of fossil fuels that impact clean water and promote climate change.”

Camden Girl Scouts Visit MD Anderson Cancer Center

Through a partnership with The Cooper Foundation, the Girl Scouts of Central & Southern New Jersey, St. Joseph’s Pro-Cathedral School and KIPP Cooper Norcross Academy, 24 Camden middle school students visited MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper on Jan. 30 for a behind the scenes look at STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) careers.

During the tour of the state-of-the-art cancer center, students had the opportunity to hear from a radiation therapist, an infusion nurse, a pharmacist, and a clinical researcher to learn about their work and the technology used to care for patients.

Following the tour, Dr. Lisa Reid, a surgeon at MD Anderson at Cooper, shared the story of her career path and encouraged the girls to find their voice and follow their dreams.

Last year, Camden high school students visited Cooper as part of the STEMsational: STEM Girl Scouts Series. This year, the opportunity was extended to middle school students to encourage them to discover their passions and hear from women in leadership roles.

Click here

to view photos from the tour.

VISTAs lend a helping hand in preparation for the FaithFULL Food Drive

CAMDEN CITY, NJ–A group of AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) who currently work at the Center For Family Services, volunteered their time and efforts at Catholic Charities’ headquarters in Camden City. There, they organized and sorted through items in preparation for the upcoming Camden Diocesan FaithFULL Food Drive on March 22. After the drive, Catholic Charities will use this space to temporarily store donated food items before distributing it to the agency’s other offices throughout Southern New Jersey to ensure that clients and those who are hungry will be given food and connected to the agency’s services.

To learn more about volunteer opportunities at Catholic Charities,

click here

, or to learn more about the upcoming FaithFULL Food Drive,

click here

.

Energy efficiency lighting rebate grants offered by DNREC

Available to businesses, local governments and non-profits

DOVER, Del. – Delaware organizations looking to reduce energy consumption and related costs through energy-efficient lighting now have expanded grant opportunities through Delaware’s Energy Efficiency Investment Fund (EEIF). Administered by DNREC’s Division of Climate, Coastal, & Energy, the fund

offers grants to offset the cost of energy efficiency improvements, and has broadened the kinds of light fixtures that will qualify for grants while adjusting incentives offered for large custom projects to reflect competitive regional market rates.

EEIF assists with energy assessments, lighting, HVAC, complex retrofits, building improvements, and thermal energy systems. Changes to the lighting incentives include 34 new categories of eligible fixtures, varying incentive rates based on wattage, and the addition of incentives for lighting control systems. All incentive levels also have been adjusted to reflect market conditions for LED lights.

Updates to comprehensive custom projects have been made to promote maximum energy efficiency efforts, including implementing a tiered system that encourages applicants to consider projects with multiple end-use benefits. The EEIF program is also creating its first incentives for reducing emissions, such as carbon dioxide (CO

2

).

“The EEIF program has been hugely successful supporting projects that saved over 55 million kilowatts in fiscal year 2019 alone,” said Dayna Cobb, director of the Division of Climate, Coastal, & Energy. “These additions to EEIF add even greater value to a program that is already reducing energy usage and pollution.”

EEIF is funded through the Public Utility Tax (PUT), the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and one-time funding from the Exelon-Pepco merger settlement through which Delmarva Power, a major Delaware energy provider, became an Exelon company in 2016. Grant amounts are capped at 30 percent of the project’s total cost. Any application approved after Feb. 1, 2020 will reflect the new lighting and custom incentive levels.

For details on the program, application forms, and a list of eligible lighting products and rebates for deploying them, please visit

www.de.gov/eeif

.

Camden County Employee Charged with Theft

Camden, N.J. – A Camden County employee has been charged with stealing more than $114,000 that was intended for regattas and rowing competitions at Cooper River Park, according to Acting Camden

County Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer.

James Stack, 44, of Collingswood, has been charged with Theft by Failure to Make Required Disposition of Property Received and Official Misconduct.

Investigators say Stack, who previously served as the Director of Rowing at the Camden County Boathouse, accepted money from various rowing organizations and deposited the checks into two bank accounts he managed under Cooper Training Center, LLC, a company Stack owns. Detectives said evidence showed Stack would then deposit a lesser amount into accounts managed by the county.

The discrepancy was caught during a county audit and reported. Investigators found evidence dating back to January 2018 through December of 2019 and said the investigation is ongoing.

Stack was cited and released pending a Central Judicial Processing hearing March 10.

All persons charged with crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

1000\’s Attend St. Mary\’s/ Gloucester City Irish Parade (photos)

by CNBNews Staff

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (March 3, 2020)–This year\’s parade, held Sunday, March 1, was \”much bigger than last year\”, said Mayor Dan Spencer. \”Between all the marchers and spectators it was estimated upwards of 5,000 people in town.\’\”

Spencer said, \”I would like to extend my appreciation to all of our parade sponsors especially the Camden County Board of Chosen Freeholders, all of our great city employees from the Public Works Department, Police and Fire Departments, Camden County Special Events Department, Msgr. William Hodge from St. Mary’s, Charlie Kain, President of the New Jersey Irish Society, Tom Gurick our MC, Bob Kelly from Fox 29 News, Principal Ed Beckett our Grand Marshall from Gloucester Catholic High School, Dr. Dennis Vespe and Principal Sean Gorman from the Gloucester City School District for all their support, Members of City Council, my friends from the Philadelphia Mummers String Band Association for their help and support in organizing things on parade day, and all of those who had anything to do with making this a bigger and better event for putting Gloucester City in the spotlight. We are happy for the many people who visited our businesses that day, especially those who visited our taverns and restaurants. I apologize for anyone I forgot, so a GREAT BIG THANK YOU TO EVERYONE, Especially the great citizens of Gloucester City for being so humble and hospitable. See you next year for an even bigger and better parade.\”

( photos courtesy of Heidi Weaver heidiho7272@gmail.com )

The opening ceremony of the parade began in front of the church with Sheila McGirl singing  the anthems as the flags for the United States and Ireland were raised by Assemblyman Bill Moen. Grand Marshall Ed Beckett and Deputy Consul General from Ireland Sean O\’Hageon look on

The Brian Boru Pipes and Drums Band with Kevin Flatley Drum Major parades by St. Mary\’s  Church

Several thousand people attended this year\’s parade. Gloucester City Mayor Dan Spencer was decked out in his Irish scarf, tie and carried his Irish shillelagh

Gloucester City Mayor Dan Spencer and Monsignor Bill Hodge do their impression of the mummer strut with one of the string band captains in front of St. Mary\’s Church

Monsignor Bill Hodge enjoyed the day. Being the Irishman that he is he couldn\’t contain himself when the music starting playing he had this urge to strut his stuff.

Celebrity Parade Marshall Bob Kelly from Fox 29 was dressed out in his finery including his shamrock sports coat which he only wears, hopefully, at St. Patrick\’s celebrations.  Where do you buy something like that Bob?

Mary Blackiston just couldn\’t help herself. She showed everyone that you can\’t keep a Gloucester City girl down when the string band starts playing you have to dance!

Honor guest  Deputy Consul General from Ireland Sean O’Hageon

Ladies AOH State Officers Roseann Michel and Maread Gallagher

CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE

( photos courtesy of Heidi Weaver heidiho7272@gmail.com )

PA Legislators Concerned With $100M Redesign of State College System

By Christen Smith |

The Center Square

Gloucestercitynews.net files

Pennsylvania lawmakers questioned a proposed $100 million redesign of its higher education system this week after years of declining enrollment left many of its 14 universities in the red.

Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) Chancellor Dan Greenstein said the “radical” plan – which includes a $20 million boost annually in state funding over the next five years – would allow the organization to share services, demolish underutilized buildings and encourage staff retirements that altogether could save between $80 million and $120 million through 2025.

“The universities have created five-year plans which demonstrate how they will balance the budgets from which these numbers are derived,” he told the Senate Appropriations Committee during PASSHE’s budget hearing this week. “And they will be held accountable for this. … This can has been kicked down the road, and the road has ended.”

Gov. Tom Wolf’s $36.1 billion state budget proposal allocates $490 million to PASSHE and $12.9 million in support of the system’s redesign effort. Greenstein said the agency needs a 2 percent increase over last year’s funding, plus the $20 million appropriation, to target its joint goals of keeping tuition affordable and the five-year redesign plan.

Greenstein said PASSHE also renegotiated labor union contracts and created an extended sick leave payout program the agency hopes will encourage 200 staff and faculty to retire annually. In October, all universities implemented “sustainability policies” that establish balanced budgets and new procedures meant to effectively manage personnel – from curtailing the use of temporary faculty to consolidating existing roles at all levels to eliminating or combining duplicative programs with low enrollment.

“It’s going to require an unprecedented level of collaboration with our unions and close collaboration with our universities,” Greenstein said. “This will stretch us, but I am confident we are ready, and as the numbers portray, it is time.”

Enrollment across PASSHE’s 14 universities declined 20 percent over the past decade, Greenstein said, while state funding levels for the system rank 47th nationwide. Pennsylvania’s student debt is also the second highest in the nation, Greenstein added, despite the agency’s priority of keeping tuition affordable.

“You and all the students have the absolute right to be enraged and livid by the lack of leadership from this General Assembly,” said Sen. Steve Santarsiero, D-Bucks. “The fact is that we are not investing where we should be investing. We are not giving you the resources you need.

“The cost that our students are asked to bear, as you just said, has a direct relationship with the funding we give to our state system” he added. “It’s inexcusable that Pennsylvania ranks 47th in the country.”

Other senators pressed Greenstein on whether the redesign plan should consider closing universities with lower attendance rates – an idea the chancellor said disenfranchises the rural communities many of them serve.

“I don’t think the numbers support your theory because the rural institutions are the ones that had the greatest reduction in numbers,” said Sen. Gene Yaw, R-Lycoming. \”I know how important Mansfield University is to the town of Mansfield, … but somewhere along the line, we really have to take a look at would we be better off closing them and folding the funding into the institutions that are really thriving.”

Sen. Scott Martin, R-Lancaster, told Greenstein the “backwards” prioritization of struggling universities concerns him and undermines the few schools that remain successful.

“My big worry, from many different perspectives, is the fact that we are missing out on opportunities with the institutions that are growing, that are doing their best to keep their head above water and that they cannot do these things because they’re not getting the resources,” he said. “The resources are being funneled through back channels to create opportunities that every single student in the commonwealth is not being given, in terms of scholarships, and that’s just fundamentally not fair.”

Martin’s comments reference Wolf’s $204 million proposed Nellie Bly Tuition Program, which would target financial assistance to full-time PASSHE students. Under program rules, students must agree to stay in Pennsylvania for as many years as they received the benefit.

Senate Education Committee Minority Chairman Andy Dinniman, D-Chester, criticized the scholarship program proposal during Thursday’s hearing, insisting that raiding the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development Trust Fund would only result in court challenges the state is certain to lose.

\”I wish it was as simple as we’ve said,\” he said. \”If you try to take the money out … and to play this game of letting students think they will get these scholarships and they will not, because it will go to court.\”

published by Gloucestercitynews.net with permission of

The Center Square

Clements Bridge Road in Barrington to be Closed March 3 to 6 During The Day

Barrington Police Department advises you to AVOID Location due to an upcoming traffic issue. A road construction project near Clements Bridge RD and Trinity PL. will close Clements Bridge RD. Southbound at Gloucester Pike and will require a

detour of traffic from March 3-6. 7:00am- 5:00pm. Southbound vehicles can either take W. Gloucester Pike into Bellmawr and utilize Black Horse Pike, or take E. Gloucester Pike to utilize Atlantic Ave and White Horse Pike. Businesses between Gloucester Pike and Williams Ave will be accessible to southbound traffic.  No vehicles will be allowed southbound past Williams Ave. All northbound traffic will flow normally.

Address/Location

Barrington Borough, NJ

229 Trenton Ave

Barrington, NJ 08007

Contact

Emergency: 9-1-1

Non-emergencies:

856-547-0706