NEW JERSEY UTILITIES TO INVEST $8.4 BILLION IN STATE’S ECONOMY
New Jersey’s major utilities have plans to spend some $8.4 billion on future capital construction and improvements.

The estimates highlighted a conference on December 14 attended by more than 200 people sponsored by the New Jersey Alliance for Action and the New Jersey Utilities Association.

Philip K. Beachem, President of the Alliance for Action, stated that “the combined investment by New Jersey utility companies is a significant generator of revenue for our State while at the same time providing the foundation for future economic growth and essential services to our residents.”

“Today’s presentations by our utility executives is a clear demonstration of the importance of New Jersey’s utilities to the economic vitality of the state,” said Karen Alexander, President and CEO of the Utilities Association.

The largest plans for capital investment were given by Public Service Electric & Gas Company and Verizon New Jersey.
-Rodney Dickens, Vice President, Asset Management & Centralized Services, Public Service said his utility expects to invest over $5 billion on capital activity over the next five years.
-Dennis Bone, President of Verizon New Jersey, said installation of a new fiber optic network with a long range investment of $23 to $24 billion is “off and running.” He estimated that the fiber optic installation will have a 3-year cost of $1.5 billion over 2006-2008.
-Walter Lynch, President of New Jersey American Water Company, reported his utility has plans to spend $840 million over the five year period from 2007-2011.
-William Gausman, Vice President, Asset Management, PHI/Atlantic City Electric, said Atlantic City Electric plans to invest $500 million over the next five years.
-Edward Graham, President and CEO of South Jersey Gas Company reported that his company plans to spend $250 million over the next five years.
-Stephen E, Morgan, President of Jersey Central Power and Light told the audience that his utility is scheduled for $186 million in capital investments in 2007.
-Laurence Downes, Chairman and CEO of New Jersey Natural Gas said his company is expending $59 million this year and plans to increase that amount to $71.4 million for an anticipated 10,000 new customers.
-Donald Carter, Vice President and General Manager of Operations of Elizabethtown Gas Company said his utility has plans for $30 million of infrastructure investment.

METROPARK RAIL STATION TO RECEIVE $30 MILLION UPGRADE
The NJ Transit Board has awarded a construction contract for nearly $30 million for an upgrade of the Metropark train station to Anselmi and DeCicco, Inc., of Maplewood.

When work is completed in 2010, Metropark will have wider and longer platforms, a larger station building, climate-controlled shelters on platforms, better pedestrian access from nearby Route 27 and an improved communication system to announce arrivals and departures. The new platform will be long enough for 12-car trains, whereas the current platforms can handle only 10-car trains.

NJ TRANSIT RECEIVES LEADERSHIP AWARD FOR TRANS-HUDSON TUNNEL
NJ Transit has been selected to receive the Public Agency Award by the Wagner Rudin Center for Transportation Policy & Management. The 2007 Annual Leadership in Transportation Awards cited NJ Transit’s initiatives to move forward the long-awaited Trans Hudson Rail Tunnel between New Jersey and Manhattan.

NEW JERSEY AMERICAN WATER COMPLETES PURCHASES OF WATER SYSTEMS IN FLORHAM PARK AND SOUTHERN NEW JESERY
American Water announced that its subsidiary, New Jersey American Water completed the purchase of a water system that will provide water to the 480-acre former Exxon Mobil Corp. site located in Florham Park, NJ.

The site, located just off Park Avenue, which includes the area where the New York Jets are planning to build their new headquarters and training camp, will also include an age-restricted community, hotels, and other commercial establishments.

New Jersey American Water also announced the purchase of S.J. Services Inc., which includes the South Jersey Water Supply Company in southern Gloucester County and Pennsgove Water Supply Company in northern Salem County. The acquisition will allow New Jersey American Water to increase its statewide customer base by approximately 6,500. And have a presence in 17 of the state’s 21 counties.

The acquisition requires New Jersey Board of Public Utilities approval and is expected to close sometime in 2007.

PORT NEWARK CONTAINER TERMINAL PURCHASED BY INSURANCE COMPANY
The Port Newark Container Terminal has been acquired by a unit of the New York City-based insurance firm American International Group. Terms of the sale were not disclosed.

The seller was the Dubai Port World (DPW), the Middle Eastern port and terminal operator whose February acquisition of six major ports in the United States was strongly opposed by state and federal political leaders. The controversy began with the announcement that DPW had bought Britain’s Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation, which controlled terminals at ports in Newark, New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Miami and New Orleans. Dubai is one of seven territories making up the United Arab Emirates.

SITE BEING CLEARED FOR HARRISON METROCENTRE
Demolition has moved ahead by Turner Construction and Mazzocchi Wrecking for the site of Advance Realty Group’s Harrison MetroCentre. Demolition of the Guyon Piping Company Building clears the way for the vast mixed-use project.

The project will include three million square feet of office space, 3,500 residential units, 300,000 square feet of retail space and the 25,000-seat Red Bull Park soccer stadium being developed by AEG, the sports and entertainment company.

ATLANTIC CITY BOOKINGS SHOW A SHARP INCREASE
Atlantic City has enjoyed a 55 percent increase in the number of conventions, trade shows and public shows booked for its convention centers and casino-hotels for the first half of 2006 compared to the same period in 2005.

The Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority reported that it has booked 231 events through the first six months of 2006 compared to 149 last year. The bookings include shows at the seven-acre Convention Center, the renovated Boardwalk Hall and the city’s 11 casinos. The added attractions have been construction of 4,000 new hotel rooms since 2003 and The Walk shopping and entertainment center.

CAMDEN AND GLOUCESTER COUNTIES TO STUDY WI-FI NETWORKS
Freeholders in Camden and Gloucester Counties have approved plans to commission a $250,000 study to explore the feasibility of installing a massive wi-fi network. The project would bring free or low-cost wireless internet access to every home, business, park and public space in an area.

Wi-fi, the wireless technology that uses radio waves, has been around for years. Wi-fi equipped areas --- or hot spots --- are limited to a few hundred feet. But networks that use antennas affixed to light poles and traffic lights can create overlapping hot spots that can stretch for hundreds of miles. Residents and businesses with these hot spots are offered internet access that often is free or costs less than $20 a month.

ALLIANCE ACTIVITIES
PSE&G PRESIDENT TO FEATURE “MEET THE PLAYERS” PROGRAM
The next speaker in the Alliance for Action’s popular “Meet the Players” series will be Ralph LaRossa, the New President and Chief Operating Officer of Public Service Electric & Gas Company.

LaRossa’s appearance will be on Friday, January 5, 2007, at the Alliance for Action offices in Raritan Plaza II, Raritan Center, in Edison. Registration will be at 9:00 a.m., with the program to begin at 10:00 a.m. To register Go Here.

HAPPY HOLIDAY’S!!!

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