HIGHLANDS COUNCIL APPROVES PSE&G PLAN FOR POWER UPGRADE
The State Highlands Council approved a special exemption for Public Service Electric & Gas Company’s proposed major electric utility upgrade through Northern New Jersey. After two hours of public testimony, the Council’s Board voted 8-2 in favor of PSE&G’s 45-mile, $750 million high voltage power line project that would run from Pennsylvania to Roseland.

The Council majority said the Highlands Act calls for the Council to consider future economic needs of the region, allowing exemptions for utility system needs. They commended PSE&G for amending its original plan by altering the route of the proposed line, reducing the number of towers and addressing mitigation and land preservation issues.

The Council’s action must be accepted by Governor Corzine and approved by the State Board of Public Utilities.

Supporting testimony was given at two separate Sussex County hearings by Alliance for Action Executive Vice President Jerry Keenan and by Senior Vice President Cliff Heath.

FOUR FEDERAL LEASES AWARDED TO NEW JERSEY TO EXPLORE WIND ENERGY
The Federal Government issued four leases to allow wind-energy companies to explore the feasibility of building wind farms off the coast of New Jersey. U.S. Interior Secretary Kenneth Salazar said the leases are the first of their kind and represent an initial step to help New Jersey meet Governor Corzine’s goal to produce wind-generated power by 2013.

The leases to collect data off the coast were awarded to Bluewater Wind Energy New Jersey LLC, Fisherman’s Energy of New Jersey LLC and two leases to Deepwater Wind LLC for different locations.

Attendees at recent Alliance for Action chapter meetings in Monmouth, Atlantic and Ocean Counties heard presentations on offshore wind power from Kris Ohleth, Deputy Project Director of Bluewater Wind – an Alliance member. Alliance President Philip K. Beachem commended the Interior Department for timely support of an alternate source of non-polluting energy.

DOT COMMISSIONER DILTS REPORTS ON CAPITAL PROJECTS AT ALLIANCE DINNER
State Transportation Commissioner Stephen Dilts outlined a capital projects blueprint to some 300 attendees at the Alliance for Action annual South Jersey Regional Dinner.

Dilts reported that the DOT’s $3.6 billion capital plan will begin on July 1, 2009. As individual projects, he cited:
-Widening of the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway to begin in July.
-Expansion of the Atlantic City Expressway is set for September 2009, with $200 million in upgrades already started.
-A “game-changing” new commuter train line for Camden to Glassboro has $500 million funding set aside.
-The largest stimulus-funded project will be rehabilitation of Route 295 in Camden and Burlington Counties.

Another highlight was presentation of the Alliance for Action Hall of Fame Award to Executive Director Bart Mueller of the South Jersey Transportation Authority and the annual Walter Rand Award for public service to Camden County Freeholder Jeffrey Nash.

STATE MOVING AHEAD ON FEDERAL STIMULUS ROADWAY PROJECTS
State officials report that New Jersey has been authorized to spend $389 million in federal stimulus funds for roadway projects and plans to sign contracts by September.

According to the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, more than $124 million in stimulus money will pay for projects in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren Counties. The South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization reported that $8.2 million in projects will be in Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and Salem Counties.

New Jersey was required to let out contracts for 50 percent of the stimulus funds by the end of June. The State Department of Transportation says it already has allocated 75 percent of its allocation. Of the first planned projects, the DOT said 13 came in below estimates, with the average bids at 5 percent below anticipated costs.

RESURFACING OF ROUTE 80 WEST IS UNDER WAY
Resurfacing eight miles of Route 80 westbound has begun by the State Department of Transportation. The $9.9 million project is funded under the federal stimulus plan.

DOT Commissioner Stephen Dilts said construction is intended to extend the life of the highway, improve safety and eliminate cracks, potholes and ruts. The project, expected to be completed in December, will cover the westbound stretch from east of South Beverwyck Road to west of Route 23 in Essex, Morris and Passaic counties. Most of the work will take place during the overnight hours --- between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. --- and also will include repair of ten bridge decks.

EDA TO HELP FUND CLEAN-ENERGY PROJECTS
The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) launched a new program to offer interest-free loans and grants of up to $5 million to businesses that invest in energy-efficient projects.

Commercial, industrial and institutional customers could get 10-year loan terms to purchase fixed assets, including real estate or equipment, under the Clean Energy Solutions Capital Investment Loan/Grant program. The loans and grants are capitalized through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative’s Global Warming Solutions Fund in partnership with the Department of Environmental Protection.

HUDSON AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT TO BREAK GROUND
Ground will be broken in September 2009 on Horizon Heights, an affordable housing project to be constructed on the former Welder Warehouse property that straddles the border of West New York and Union City. Regan Development Corp. says the five-story building will be designed for families earning less than 60 percent of the median income in Hudson County.

The State Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency will help finance the project with $1.4 million from the Special Needs Housing Trust Fund and $1.7 million in annual tax credits. Hudson county will provide up to $4.3 million. Occupancy is expected for Fall 2010.

JERSEY CITY POWERHOUSE RENOVATIONS HAS BEGUN
Renovations of Jersey City’s historic Powerhouse building has begun as the first step toward a planned $90 million revitalization of the city’s downtown area. The Powerhouse, built between 1906 and 1908, to power the old Hudson & Manhattan Railroad (now PATH) is on the National Register of Historic Places.

The $3.4 million renovation, funded by the city, Jersey City Redevelopment Agency and a contribution from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, will include replacement of windows and roof and new drainage systems.

When renovated, the Powerhouse is planned as the centerpiece of Jersey City’s Powerhouse Arts District to be redeveloped by the Cordish Cos. Of Baltimore. The $90 million project will feature galleries, restaurants and offices, with completion scheduled for 2013.

SOLAR POWER SYSTEMS SERVES HYATT REGENCY NEW BRUNSWICK
The Hyatt Regency New Brunswick activated a $2.5 million solar power system to supply the hotel with 30 percent to 50 percent of its energy needs.

The 421-kilowatt solar system, with 1,870 panels, covers 32,000 square feet across the rooftop of the hotel’s garage. It was installed by SunPower Corp., which operates a regional office in Trenton.

REPORT ON FORT MONMOUTH REUSE TO FEATURE ALLIANCE MEETING
A presentation on the redevelopment of Fort Monmouth will be featured at a meeting of the Monmouth County Alliance for Action on Friday, July 17. The audience will include county business, labor and government leaders.

The meeting at Eagle Oaks Golf Club, 20 Shore Oaks Drive, Farmingdale, will begin with registration at 8:15 a.m. and the program at 9 a.m.

Speakers will include:
-Richard P. Harrison, Deputy Director of the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Planning Authority.
-Amy Fitzgerald, Director of Monmouth County Economic & Workforce Development Program.
-Brian Strizki, P.E., Director-Office of Design Services, New Jersey Department of Transportation, on stimulus programs.

Co-Chairs of the Monmouth Alliance are Freeholder Deputy Director John D’Amico, and Wyatt Earp, President, Monmouth-Ocean Counties AFL-CIO Central Labor Council. The Monmouth Alliance is one of 13 county affiliates of the New Jersey Alliance for Action, a non-profit, non-partisan statewide advocate of investment in infrastructure. To register Go Here.

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
-Peter Skiannik was named Manager of Operations Planning and Special Projects in the Newark office of Parsons Brinckerhoff.
-John Hoffman is the new Board Chairman of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. He is an attorney and shareholder in the law firm of Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer. He succeeded Gil Blitz.
-Frank Criscola, Jr., of the Crisdel Group, was elected President of the Utility & Transportation Contractors Association.
-Dennis M. Bone, President of Verizon New Jersey, is the new Chairman of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce. Bone is a member of the Board of the Foundation of the New Jersey Alliance for Action.
-Anthony “Skip” Cimino is the new CEO of Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in Hamilton. He is a former Assemblyman and State Commissioner of Personnel. >-Louis Cappelli, Jr., was selected as Chair of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. He is Managing Partner of the Southern New Jersey office of Florio, Perrucci, Steinhardt & Fader.

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