Environmental Savings and Benefits
New Jersey's Clean Energy Program reduces the need to generate electricity and burn natural gas which eliminates the pollution that would have been caused by such electric generation or natural gas usage. The benefits of these programs continue for the life of the measures installed, which on average is about 15 years. Thus, the public receives substantial environmental and public health benefits from programs that also lower energy bills and benefit the economy.
The total reductions in carbon dioxide emissions resulting from New Jersey's Clean Energy Program in 2009 are equivalent to taking 95,000 cars off the road for an entire year. These emission reductions will reduce our state’s contribution to greenhouse gases, smog, and acid rain.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has a tool called the Power Profiler, which helps you estimate the air emissions associated with your electricity consumption by entering your ZIP code and your current electrical load.
The following table summarizes the annual and lifetime emission reductions that result from the installation of energy efficiency and renewable energy measures installed in 2009:
|
Emission Reductions |
||||
| CO2 | NOX | SO2 | HG (LBS) | |
| Annual Emission Reductions (Metric Tons) from Measures Installed in 2009 |
583,468 | 9,974 | 2,350 | 28 |
| Lifetime Emission Reductions (Metric Tons) from Measures Installed in 2009 |
6,297,565 | 142,593 | 24,537 | 296 |
| Cumulative Emission Reductions (Metric Tons) from Measures Installed in 2009 |
19,945,698 | 32,206 | 66,921 | 806 |

In addition to environmental benefits, these measures help improve our energy independence, provide for cleaner, healthier air, and create jobs for New Jersey.




