APRIL 23, 2013

HOW COAL-FIRED
POWER PLANT
POLLUTION EFFECTS
NEW JERSEY
WRITTEN BY
GRANT
HPOLITICS
ACKWORTH
EVIRONMENTAL
POLICY
AND
228
DR. TOM CIOPPA

Grant Hackworth

Dr. Tom Cioppa

POLI-228

Coal-fired power has driven the United States since the invention of the steam powered
locomotive and continues to supply the nation with roughly 54% of its electricity to this day. It is
a cheap and abundant domestic resource of which our reliance on has very literally blurred our
vision. Coal is directly responsible for 67% of nationwide sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions, as
well as nitrogen oxide (NOx), mercury, carbon dioxide (CO2), and particulate matter (PM)
(Auerbacher). There are many coal-fired power plants in the United States, each emitting tons of
this chemical cocktail out of their smokestacks for our simple American pleasures. All with the
ideal of inexpensive electricity for all in the land of the free, but it is not free of the costs to life
on Earth. Human life is surely impacted and is all that seems to matter in most American minds,
but plant and fish life are being threatened by our growing ignorance and inability to resist the
corporate greed that seems to be set in stone by the generations that have preceded us. As
daunting as it may appear, we must scale this wall of adversity to overcome the challenge ahead,
and as I point out in this essay, this is a reality New Jersey has faced for some time. Out of the
laundry list of chemicals and greenhouse gases detrimental to society and the planet we in habit,
I will focus on sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxide (NOx), and will include particulate matter
(PM) because when SO2 and NOx fuse in the atmosphere they can create harmful particles . In
order to have this essay hit home I will examine the threat of one particular coal-fired power
plant, the Portland Generating Station, sitting just across the Delaware River in Upper Mount
Bethel Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania.
Air pollution from coal-fired power plants is a health nightmare and when only a
few pollutants are put under the microscope it is easy to see why. SO2 severely impacts children
and the elderly mainly because children are still developing and the elderly have weakened
immune systems. SO2 has been linked to low birth weights and has the ability to disrupt brain
and respiratory development in infants and young children (Keating5-6). Asthma and other
allergies have not been directly linked to coal-fired power plants pollution considering how
many other sources of air pollution there are out there, but there seems to be a direct correlation
between the two. As many of the poor urban community, who dwell in areas riddled with
industrial pollution and usually within close proximity to a coal-fired power plant, seem to be
where the larger portion of asthmatics and respiratory issues lay. SO2 may not be clinically
linked to causing asthma but it has been associated triggering severe asthma attacks that require
hospitalization. It also can reduce lung capacity and cause damage to the bronchioles (Keating5Research Paper Assignment

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6). A report done by the National Academy of Sciences related the burning of fossil fuels for
electric generation and transportation to the yearly healthcare cost of $120 billion (Perrone 5).
Consider linking the epidemic of learning disabilities in the 1990s and early 2000s to the fact
that SO2 affects infant brain development and I could assure you that there is no price tag that to
the youth of our nation. Lastly, SO2 is the reason there is haze and smog which significantly
reduces visibility to the beautiful regions of the US as well as disrupting vision on roadways. The
reason for this is because the particles of SO2 scatter the light as it shines down and gives us that
gross brown lingering at the horizon (Lashof 12-13). Imagine how beautiful the sunrise at the
Jersey shore would be if there was no haze.
Nitrogen oxide (NOx) is another threat to human health when it forms ground level
ozone, 90% of which is released into the air every year is contributed by coal-fired power plants
(Lashof 13). This ground level ozone is created when the emitted NOx reacts with sunlight to
create no3, or ozone, but this is very different from the ozone layer in the stratosphere which
protects us from harmful UV rays and solar radiation. When the ozone is at ground level and
absorbed into our lungs it reduces the lungs ability to function properly and causes shortness of
breath (Lashof 13). Prolonged exposure to ground level ozone can lead to respiratory problems
and increased chance of respiratory infections, again the asthmatic, young, and elderly being the
most at risk. The long-term exposure to NOx can actually change how the lung functions and
even alter the structure of the lungs alongside with constant inflammation of the entire
respiratory system. Unlike a smoker who chooses to damage their lungs and once abstained
from smoking, can begin to regain lung capacity and heal the damage they caused over the years.
The damage caused from NOx is irreversible and is an ambient pollution all around us whether
you like it or not (Lashof 13). NOx directly contributes to many of the emergency room visits
each year and causes premature aging. That being said there are 110 million Americans who live
in areas that are considered to have unsafe ground level ozone present (Lashof 13). By all means
let advertisements rip into tobacco, which is a choice, and never once consider that the ambient
air pollution in which we have no choice but to inhale every day is truly killing us. At least when
you buy a pack of cigarettes they provide a Surgeon General warning, the same warning should
be administered on your electric bill. Some coal-fired power plants have taken the initiative, but
others would rather not burden themselves with the task of reducing the very emissions they fill
their bottom line with.
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Now combine SO2 and NOx the same way nature does in the atmosphere and bring down
the topic of particulate matters (PM). PM is set aside into two categories, PM10 which is made
up of fine and coarse particles with a diameter of 10 micrometers or less, and PM2.5 which is
particles measuring in at less than 2.5 micrometers (Lashof 12-13). A micrometer is 0.001
millimeters, so it is apparent that these particles are extremely small but they are still particles
freely floating all around us. Constantly being delivered into to atmosphere via coal-fired power
plants and eventually raining down us, sometimes very literally in acid rain and the rest of the
time just continuously floating down in the air we breathe. In 2002 a study was conducted to
measure the release of PM annually around the nation. 114,000 tons of PM2.5 were released into
the atmosphere and another 219,000 tons of PM10, it is also very important to point out that
these figures DO NOT include the PM that is made in the atmosphere when SO2 and NOx
combines.
This is because the measurements for this study were done using collection methods of
smokestack emissions. There is no way to measure the PM created in the atmosphere, however it
is estimated that 60% of all coal-fired power plants PM emissions come from the reaction of
SO2 and NOx catalyzed by sunlight (Lashof12-13). These fine particles that are formed in this
process are estimated to cut the lifespans of 30,000 Americans short each and every year
(Keating 6). The impact seems to affect the usual group with weak immune systems again
including the elderly and children. People with lung and heart disease are at very high risk as PM
directly aggravates respiratory systems and is a leading contributor to cardiovascular illness. PM
is not only able to change lung function, because of the NOx in which it contains, but can also
disrupt the structure and function of the bodys natural defenses thus further weakening immune
systems (Lashof 13). If the cycle is not yet apparent then let me point out the redundancy of the
problem here, if SO2 and NOx affect people with weak immune systems and PM which is
usually derived from the chemical reaction between the two causes damage to the bodys natural
defense, then we are looking at a perpetual cycle of lung, heart, and general health problems
coming from just these two pollutants. An estimated 70 million Americans live in areas at high
risk to PM pollution.
When SO2 reaches the atmosphere it is changed into sulfates and sulfuric acid which
have the capability to be carried across the sky for up to a thousand miles away from its original
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source of emission (Keating 6). The acid rain that is produced from this process decimates
forests and waterways worldwide and acid rain is seen as an epidemic of the industrial era. Soil
is directly impacted from the acidity of the acid rain and increases the detriment and stresses
placed on New Jersey forests. The acidification of soils strips the nutrients that plant-life rely on
to thrive and can actually release toxins once a certain threshold is breached. When soil becomes
acidified it relies on natural processes to neutralize the high acidity levels to keep an even
balance. This is achieved through the release of natural calcium deposits to act as a buffer in the
soil. However, when there is no longer enough calcium, the soil releases a toxic form of
aluminum instead (USGS 3). In a study conducted by the United States Geological Survey
(USGS) in the Adirondack Mountains, it was revealed that 90% of the upper layer of soil
throughout the region was releasing aluminum instead of calcium due to this very acidification of
the soil. They concluded that what has caused such erosion of calcium in the soil was due to
decades of acid rain with no end in sight. (USGS 4). The depletion of calcium from the soil in
our forests directly impacts the trees ability to respond to stress such as droughts, increase in
salinity, lack of sunlight, and most importantly low temperatures (DeHayes795&798).
Considering that New Jersey experiences all four seasons, the need for a resistance to cold
temperatures is a key factor to plant survival in the state. Scientists have figured out that the
forest ecosystems depend on this small calcium pool to play the role in aiding them in times of
stress. Even highly resistant conifers, a phylum of plant consisting of evergreens, pines, etc.,
which riddle the state of New Jersey, can fall prey to these subtle changes.
Not only does acid rain alter the soil the trees rely on, it can actually alter the physical
structure of the plants when the acidity changes the cell membranes structure. Once again in
doing so it leaves the plant highly susceptible to environmental stresses (DeHayes798). Plants
evolved these defense mechanisms to thrive in the natural conditions of the Earth which can be
harsh on its own. As many big blizzards and now hurricanes that New Jersey faces it seems that
our human activities are making their survival much more difficult. In addition to soil acidity,
NOx also inhibits the plants ability to produce food through photosynthesis as well as its
capability to store food. This makes all vegetation extremely susceptible to disease and insect
infestations which in some regions are seeing epidemics of the sort (Keating 7). Also consider
that before plants evolved to remove CO2 from the atmosphere and replace it with fresh oxygen,

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this world did not support the extremely complex life it now possesses. Inevitably the survival of
all complex life rely on the photosynthetic process plants provide, without them we are nothing.
The USGS study also found that 50% of the macro invertebrate population which are the
tiny organisms that make up the bottom of the food chain in the hydrological ecosystem. These
organisms were found to be moderately to severely impacted by this very same acidification as it
leeched nutrients from the benthic layer, which is the bottom layer of river and lake beds, and
increased the pH level of the waters they live in. The quality of the areas watershed have already
been depleted as tests from the 1980s to now have shown no significant improvement, even
since implementation of stricter regulations amongst the Clean Air Act (CAA) and Clean Water
Act (CWA) ((USGS 4-5)) As you move up the food chain the impacts are much easier to see as
study has shown of the decline in acid sensitive fish species. The collected data found that areas
that once supported high populations of fish hold none whatsoever when acidification on the
water brings the pH level from a life-sustainable 6-7pH to a mere 5-5.5pH (Johnson 37). Such
minuscule changes in environment can have impacts of epic proportion, it takes millennia for
species to evolve and thrive and these basic components of life are being eradicated by very
subtle changes in the ecosystem. What if the change in a few degrees in air temperature or pH
level of the water we drink could kill off the human race, would we then take action? With a $35
billion tourism industry, New Jersey extremely reliant on the lakes, rivers and ocean life to bring
these people back every year (DGWRARR 12). If we begin to loss these species that directly
contribute to the very ecosystems tourists come to see, how long until those areas can no longer
support life and thus losing its appeal. Every action we take effects the world around us, the
things we take for granted can very easily disappear with no way to bring them back.
Keeping the health and environmental impacts of SO2, NOx, and PM in mind the focus is
turned towards the Portland Generating Station and its reign over New Jersey. According to the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Portland Generating Station released 30,685.44
tons of SO2 into the air in 2006 equaling to about 28.3 pounds per megawatt (MW) of electricity
(EPA). The problem with Portland Generating Station is that it was built more than 50 years ago
and old coal plants like this are grandfathered in when it comes to regulations such as the
National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The CAA formed these standards to reduce
the pollution emitted from these plants but what good can they really do when older plants that
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are the cause of much of this pollution are disregarded because of loopholes in the system. Older
coal-fired power plants pollute ten times more than modern coal-fired power plants so how can
any headway be made in the area of air quality thorough the enforcement of NAAQS (Keating
7).
The deadline set forth by the EPA to increase air quality by limiting the pollutant
emissions was established in 1997 and faced strong opposition from major coal industry players
and lobbyist. The establishment of these NAAQS was ultimately upheld by the Supreme Court.
The Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) was established by the EPA with the intentions to limit the
potential emissions of power plants focusing much priority in the Northeastern U.S. An
estimated 3.6 million tons of SO2 was to be removed from emissions by 2010 and another 3.8
million tons by the year 2015 (Auerbacher 10). Unfortunately, the ability for dirty power plants
to buy allowances from cleaner ones through the cap-and-trade system set up in these rules
seems a bit backwards, yet it still reduces the overall emissions for the region. Portland
Generating Station seemed to be thriving on its ability to buy allowances considering the drama
that has unfolded between New Jersey and Pennsylvanias Departments of Environmental
Protection (NJDEP/PADEP).
On June 8th 2005, the PADEP publicly released the permit for Portland Generating
Station for public comment and concern. By July 8th 2005 the NJDEP submitted its comments in
the timely fashion required, that the approval of this permit for Portland Generating Station
would cause an interference with NJs ability to meet the CAAs Prevention of Significant
Deterioration (PSD) provisions under the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS)
((Auerbacher 2)). The unofficial permit proposal was then sent to the EPA for approval on
May 24th 2006, for the first time ever, with a request from Relient Energys to have a footnote
added. The footnote that they suggested was that the PADEPs limit on the maximum heat input
values were NOT to be enforced only to be there for information purposes (Auerbacher 2). It
comes to light in reviewing the NJDEPs petition that the footnote was actually inserted AFTER
the original permit was closed for public comment and opinion (Auerbacher 7). There was
certainly foul play and most likely deep routed corruption going on between Relient Energy and
the PADEP, which is not shocking, but still very disappointing. So what is the purpose for the
PADEP to even be in existence if they can be persuaded on the restrictions they set on power
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plant emissions by the very same companies who power plants they are supposed to be
regulating? The NJDEP did not see this to be satisfactory and on July 21st 2006 filed a Title V
petition in accordance to Section 505(b)(2) of the CAA with the EPA to force them to refuse the
original proposal for Portland Generating Station operating permit (Auerbacher 3). NJDEPs
petition demonstrated that the increase of heat input values would not allow NJ compliance of
the PSD for the NSPS standards as well as NAAQS for NOx, SO2, and PM. In fact, they even
argued that by not setting a limit on the heat input values, that the plant would negatively affect
PAs ability to meet its CAA State Implementation Plan (SIP).
The NJDEP was forced to take its request for the Title V petition to the District Court of
New Jersey on February 6th 2007 after the EPA failed to recognize the states request. By law the
EPA has 60 days to respond with either a grant or deny decision on a petition, which they did not
fulfill. Of course the EPA decided to settle out of court with an agreement that they would
review and make a final decision on the NJDEPs Title V petition request and on June 20th 2007
issued their decision denying the NJDEPs plea. The reason stated by the EPA was that the
NJDEP could not show how Portland Generating Stations lack of a maximum heat input value
could somehow effect the states ability to meet its NAAQS. The EPA stated that there was no
need to set such limitations to be imposed because the permit provided sufficient monitoring and
would ensure the power plants ability to meet the PA SIP (Auerbacher 4).
NAAQS is the backbone of the CAA, an insurance policy to the publics health and
general wellbeing if you will. In order for it to be effective there must be limitations set and
upheld by the federal agencies funded to do just that. The permit issued by the PADEP lacks that
very fundamental principle and opens up the nearby residents in both PA and NJ to the potential
of serious health threats (Auerbacher 9). The burden of proof however lay with NJDEP and so
like every true New Jerseyian, the NJDEP accepted the challenge and continued to fight for its
rights. After performing a series of analysis and models of the surrounding areas the NJDEP
reached the conclusion that the performance of the Portland Generating Station with no limited
heat input values would not allow NJ to meet its NAAQS for PM or NOx. It also found that it
would put the state in jeopardy of failing to reach the 3 hour and 24 hour NAAQS in SO2
emissions. The combination of these three pollutants as discussed earlier causes devastating
health threats to those in the surrounding areas of the power plant (Auerbacher 10).
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NJDEP appealed the EPAs decision on the grounds that there is no way to truly
monitor a majority of the emissions because there is no monitoring system capable of measuring
all of these pollutants in the smokestack. This is because as the particulates leave the stack as a
gas, due to the high heat and pressure within, they condense when the reach the cooler air
rendering the use of these monitors useless. The only true way to keep an eye on these types of
pollution is to have and enforceable maximum heat input value. The way this monitors and keeps
the pollutants in check is through the equation of maximum heat input plus maximum fuel
concentration which results in the mass amount of emissions per hour (Auerbacher 10-11).
Keeping in mind that this equation is not proportionate to increases, for example if the maximum
heat input is raised only 10%, the end result of mass emissions would be much greater than 10%.
This is because the particulate control devices in the plant lose efficiency as the heat input
increases causing the gas output to increase.
The EPA finally determined that the emissions from the Portland Generating Station was
significantly contributing to the non-attainment of NJs NAAQS, as they sited NJ was well
above the 1-hour SO2 levels (Final Response1). The EPA also decided to restrict the heat input
value of the plant like it should have been in the first place. The biggest victory for NJ residents
comes from forcing Portland Generating Station to reduce its emissions 81% over the next three
years to comply with the CAA regulations such as the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR)
and the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) ((Final Response1)). The EPA implemented
a set of interim limits to ensure that the power plant would begin to make progress towards its
three-year goal, starting with a reduction of 60% SO2 emission in the first year. This final
decision has sparked the plant owners to set their sights on closing the two coal-fired generators
by April 2015 instead of retrofitting the plant with the technology to remove the pollutants from
its emissions (McGill).
It is not impossible to remove the required 81% from its emissions in fact there are many
controls available to coal-fired power plants to keep their emissions low. The first being selective
catalytic reduction which is a method where a catalyst bed is used to turn NOx into nitrogen and
water. This technology can reduce NOx emissions by more than 90% and its cheaper alternative,
selective non-catalytic reduction which uses ammonia or urea instead, has a 75% efficiency
rating and the White House Office of Management and Budget states that it costs $1,300 per ton
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of NOx removed by these methods (Auerbacher 15). For SO2 there is flue gas desulfurization
(FGD) which costs about $407 per kilowatt when retrofitting an older plant with it. It works by
spraying limestone reagent slurry into the flue as gases are emitted from the boiler. This
technology is considered to be a high initial cost investment with low operating expenses and
very high efficiency, anywhere from 90-99%. (Morris54-56) Under the Best Available Retrofit
Technology rule in the CAA, factories and power plants are required to install these types of
mechanisms to help reduce SO2 and CO2 emissions. However, it seems the grandfathered in
Portland Generating Station has been enjoying this loophole. The White House Office of
Management and Budget estimates that for every ton of SO2 removed from the air there is a
$7,500 benefit to human health. This does not factor in the cost of environmental benefits of the
ecosystems receiving less acid deposition. The coal-fired power plants in which these scrubbers
are incorporated produce approximately one pound of SO2 per MW per hour (Auerbacher 10).
Given the choices of investing some capital into their business or just shut it down, Portland
Generating Station is choosing to shut down. Many cry in the name of unemployment that
government programs do not want to see growth in economy but do they not see that it was the
choice of their very employer to shut down. The mechanisms for retrofitting this plant are
available and have been since the 1980s but it is because of corporate greed they are losing jobs
not environmental policy. What is the purpose of a beefy bank account if the quality of life is not
there to for people to enjoy it?
Who decides when it is acceptable for jobs to be more important than the livelihoods of
their neighbors? The idea that policies in favor of the environment kill the economy is asinine, in
reality it is jobs that are not in favor of the environment and more so public health that kill,
literally. This is why it is important to inform the public of the truths behind renewable energy
sources over the old and lazy methods of fossil fuels. Yes, fossil fuels built this country to the
pinnacle that it perceives itself as being, but are we truly on top and for how long can we
maintain at this rate. Pioneering a sustainable energy for our future is truly American, the idea of
resting on our grandfathers methods for energy is ignorant and lazy, but that seems to be the
going trend of the American citizen.
Luckily there are many who continue to push the country forward and strive for
innovation. The NJDEPs Energy Master Plan (EMP) was implemented for these exact reasons
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with intentions to push the state forward towards a greener future. Its purpose was to decrease
the waste of how electricity is currently used and distributed. One idea is to strategically
distribute electricity generation sources within closer proximity to the areas they provide the
power to. This is an important concept due to how much energy is wasted through transmission
from power plants to its destination via power lines. However, its important to consider this
method only really works when using renewable low emission technologies, to construct a small
coal-fired power plant on top of municipal buildings would make no sense and only increase
greenhouse gas emissions. (DGWRARR 17)
Another step that NJ has taken to ensure a reduction to its pollution emission was to
adopt the Global Warming Response Act (GWRA) which requires a reduction in greenhouse gas
emissions to the levels in which the state was at in 1990 by the year 2020. It also requires an
80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of the 2006 standards by the year 2050 (DGWRARR
15). The NJDEP was put in charge of the task to work alongside with other agencies to figure out
the best possible methods as well as take an inventory of all potential sources of emissions while
constructing a way to consistently measure and monitor these emissions. The Board of Public
Utilities was also given the task of how to reduce statewide emissions while adhering to the NJ
EMP. The next measure taken by the state was the ability to auction allowances given to energy
suppliers, made available through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) cap-and-trade
program. The proceeds go towards funding programs to increase energy efficiency, research and
development of renewable energy sources as well as government programs such as carbon
sequestering. This is when local branches of government use funds to preserve or restore forests
and marshland because their natural ecological processes remove carbon from the air. All of
which has been made possible by the Global Warming Solutions Fund Act.
The RGGI takes direct aim at pollution generation for the ten Northeastern states of
which it involves. The main focus is placed on CO2 emissions but SO2 and NOx are also among
the pollutants that can be bought and sold at auction. Since 1998 the RGGI has drastically cut the
NOx emission from coal-fired power plants all while doing so in a cost efficient manner.
Governor Corzine initially sought to be a part of this legislation in an effort to require NJ to
reduce its CO2, SO2, and NOx emissions levels to adhere to the 2050 mandate of 80% reduction
of the 2006 levels (Rogers 19).
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NJ started its movement towards renewable energy in 1999 with the NJ Renewable
Portfolio Standard (RPS). Its primary goal in mind was to get the state to 30% renewable
electricity sales by 2030. Another goal which was set was to require a minimum of 2,518 GWh
from instate solar electricity generation by 2021 and continue to raise that standard to 5,316
GWh by 2026 (Perrone 10-11). the NJ RPS was the first RPS program to set a mandatory
standard for offshore wind energy. Governor Christie signed the Offshore Wind Economic
Development Act into law in August of 2010. This act dictates that the Board of Public Utilities
is to develop an offshore renewable energy certificate program to allow the NJ Economic
Development Agency to provide tax credits and financial aid to those who aim at developing and
manufacturing offshore wind farms (Perrone 10). This is clearly a step in the right direction as
programs like this have paved the way for coal, oil, and natural gas, so common sense suggests
that the only way to get any energy resource into the market it forced government subsidization.
Another way NJ has begun to get the ball rolling in the right direction is the use of the
Societal Benefits Charge (SBC) which is a 3% fee placed on the customers bill by energy
suppliers to aid in the funding of the NJ Clean Energy Program. Since its initiation the SBC has
brought in approximately 1.3 billion in 2002-2007 and another $1.2 billion in 2009-2012. The
funds collected are used to benefit the states energy efficiency programs and its green energy
solutions (Perrone 10-11). As of 2008 56% of the funds went towards electricity and natural gas
efficiency programs and the other 46% went into development of renewable energy resources for
the state. The programs that the SBC supports has led to the lifetime energy savings of 26.6
million MWh as well as helping to generate over 11.5 million MWh of electricity through
renewable energy resources. The amount of emissions in which this also removed from the
environment was equivalent to taking 68,000 cars off the roads forever while also reducing NJs
annual energy demand by 560 MW. Coming in only second to California, NJ is a leader in US
solar panel production and installation due to its incentives made possible by the Clean Energy
Fund and is expected to double in 2013 (Perrone 10-11).
The trend seems to continue as more research is carried out, the strategy is not only in
removing old standards of fossil fuels for energy production but also to reduce the consumption
of energy mainly through making it more efficient. The Energy Efficiency Resource Standard
was set up with that in mind to reduce the overall state energy consumption by 20% by 2020.
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The idea behind this program is to not only reduce the costs that customers pay in their bills, but
reduce the reliance and spending of taxes on fossil fuels as well as supporting job creation. The
program has potential for creating 20,000 NJ jobs while returning over $33 billion in private
investments. The goal is to reach a 30% use of green renewable energy and save consumers
approximately $30 billion between 2010 and 2020 in energy supply costs. In comparison,
investing in clean energy generates roughly 16.7 jobs for every $1 million spent as opposed to
the 5.3 jobs created for every $1 million invested in fossil fuels (Perrone 11).
Funding seems to be the major issue when it comes down to renewable energy research
and development (R&D). The Government Accountability Office found that most of the
government funded R&D is mostly invested towards nuclear, $6.2 billion, or fossil fuel, $3.2
billion, leaving a measly $1.4 billion for renewables (Freese 35). considering that these
technologies are already developed and have been highly used over the decades yet still receive
so much money for R&D is troubling. There is no way for any renewable energy source to reach
electricity markets when so much adversity it placed against them. Another $13.7 billion in tax
credits was given to fossil fuels between the 2002-2007 periods while yet again renewables fall
by the waist side with a $2.8 billion drop in the bucket. The R&D that must be done to make
renewables competitive in the market place are concepts such as improving was ways to store the
energy for example batteries, thermal, and compress air storage (Freese 35). These advances
could greatly improve the use and ability of these renewable energy resources so that wind
turbines do not always need a windy day to provide power and the same goes for solar panels
and their inability to provide energy on cloudy days. Such a simple breakthrough as short term
storage is required yet the facts prove clear as day that renewables face a wall of resentment
constructed by the industry whose bottom-line relies one thing, fossil fuels being combusted for
energy. When a panel of retired generals and admirals issued a report on their opinions in the
matter of global warming they stated that it was to be considered a serious threat tour national
security. Actions speak louder than words though, in the fiscal year of 2007 only $1.7 billion was
spent of renewable energy R&D compared to the $82 billion spent of defense related R&D
(Freese 36).
Even PSE&G has hopped onboard the renewable energy bandwagon with its solar
initiative plan. It will invest $100 million into the installation of solar panels on homes,
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businesses, and municipal buildings over the next two years to help NJ meet its goals set forth by
the NJ EMP. This would fulfill half of the RPS requirements for PSE&G and would be enough
power to run 20,000 homes while reducing the CO2 emissions equal to 3,700 cars being
removed from the road. The program would provide loans to developers up to 50% of their cost
of installation with the rest of the bill to be footed by the customer or investors who would be
eligible to receive a federal investment tax credit. Although PSE&G would receive credit in the
form of Solar Renewable Energy Certificates and earn full return of its investments, the
ownership of the solar systems in place would be that of the developers, customers, or investors
who decided to take advantage of these programs (PSE&G).
As dismal of a picture that was painted in the earlier portion of this essay, it is easy to be
proud of the steps being taken by New Jersey and its officials. Not only in the fight against our
dirty corrupted neighbors hell-bent on making a profit over our dead bodies, but in leading the
charge towards a fossil free future. Of all the information I gathered to make these arguments it
seems the first step has been taken by the state, but ultimately it is up to continue to push public
awareness on these matter. Especially in the case of job creation in the renewable energy sector,
considering the propaganda warfare waged by the fossil fuel industry towards it. Empowering
those who are trapped in the cycle of old world fuels such as coal, for fueling their house with
electricity and income, with the knowledge that there is light at the end of this dark dirty cycle
and with that light can enter an age of renewable energy with jobs that do not require destroying
our mountain tops for coal removal or our waterway with the residues from that very same coal.
If the youth is truly this nations greatest resource, then we should embrace the idea of
empowering the next generations with air that does not destroy the lungs ability to function nor
hinder the development of the brain along very important stages of infant growth. Ensuring the
trees continue to prosper in all seasons and weather conditions and maybe one day the fish can
repopulate the streams and lakes in which they can no longer survive. I dream for this future and
do not hope for it, I demand to see it come to fruition and it gives me much pleasure to see that
there are indeed government officials who feel the same way.

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Grant Hackworth

Dr. Tom Cioppa

POLI-228

Resources
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Search Premier. EBSCO, 1 May 1986. Web. 6 Apr. 2013. <http://0Research Paper Assignment

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Dr. Tom Cioppa

POLI-228

web.ebscohost.com.library.brookdalecc.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=6&sid=24ac
12dc-f95d-43da-9db4-3cf4258564c6%40sessionmgr115&hid=120>
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Climate Policy in the U.S. Northeast." Cambridge, MA: Union of Concerned Scientists,
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and Natural Resources. Web. 12 Mar. 2013.

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