NJ Solar Energy Businesses, Electrical Contractors, & Solar Workers Call on Governor...

NJ Solar Energy Businesses, Electrical Contractors, & Solar Workers Call on
Governor Corzine to Veto Anti-Solar Legislation

TRENTON, N.J., June 26 /PRNewswire/ -- A coalition of solar energy businesses,
electrical contractors, independent electricians, and solar energy workers
joined together today at the State House to call on Governor Jon Corzine to
veto legislation (A.3372/S.2340) the group says will not only increase costs
for ratepayers, but cost the state hundreds of new green energy jobs as well.

The coalition characterized the bill as an "oppressive new mandate" on all
renewable energy and energy efficiency installation projects in New Jersey,
with the sole exception of residential projects, by imposing New Jersey
Department of Labor "prevailing wage" law on those projects. Prevailing wage
is synonymous with union wage rates and often forces businesses to hire union
labor and sub-contractors at additional cost.

"This legislation must be vetoed by Governor Corzine. It is anti-solar
because it will result in increasing the labor costs of solar by 180%. It
contradicts the Governor's and Legislature's policies of growing solar and
reducing global warming gases. If signed, this bill will increase a solar
system's total cost increasing it by as much as 30%. In effect, this will
kill many contracts and discourage already fragile private investment. The end
result could be that solar energy will wither and clean energy jobs will
suffer. As a result of this bill, solar energy has cloudy future in the State
of New Jersey", said Dennis Wilson, Vice President-NJ for the Mid-Atlantic
Solar Energy Industries Association (MSEIA). The organization is the solar
trade association for solar energy companies, manufacturers, and solar project
developers in NJ, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.

A.3372/S.2340 applies to all energy efficiency projects along with renewable
projects such as wind, solar, and biomass. The legislation pertains to any
project that receives any "approval" or any authorization by the NJ Board of
Public Utilities (NJBPU). Currently, the legislation is so broad that it
includes energy efficiency upgrades for non-profits such as churches, and
small businesses.

Joe Hovanec, Jr., Government Affairs Director of the NJ Electrical Contractors
Association (NJECA) and a leader in the national Independent Electrical
Contractors said, "90% of the licensed electricians in NJ are not union. This
bill indirectly maneuvers energy efficiency and renewable energy business to
union halls. Why should 10% of NJ electricians receive this kind of
favoritism? Small businesses and houses of worship that wish to be energy
efficient will be less likely to do so because of the union wage standard in
this legislation. Larger commercial businesses will have to pay 100% - 120%
more in labor for energy efficiency retrofits. This discourages energy
efficiency and demonstrates how bad this policy would be for NJ citizens."

Pat Murray, the owner of Solar Home Energy Solutions based in Mt. Laurel, NJ
and in the leadership of MSEIA noted, "It is not in the public interest, or
the interest of promoting energy efficiency or renewable energy, for the state
to force union wages on private transactions between parties. Furthermore,
renewable energy projects "approved" by the NJBPU are not funded by NJ
taxpayers, but by ratepayers."

"This is a back-door approach by unions to take-over renewable energy and
energy efficiency work in NJ, and will result in a net loss of clean energy
jobs. Solar energy remains expensive and this is the wrong time and wrong
sector to be forcing union wages on growing industry that has such an
important role,' Murray said.

"We offer fair wages, based on experience and the type of job, but the wages
this legislation will force us to pay reflect not fair wages, but wages needed
for union hall business staff, other dues, and for political action committee
donations to legislators. This hurts the growth of solar energy and the
market will not be able withstand this mandate. A 10% increase can easily
result in cancelled contracts and therefore, clean energy job layoffs will
occur," Murray added.

Jay Rowe, the NJECA sergeant of arms and an electrical contractor, said: "The
NJ Electrical Contractors Association represents 440 electrical contractor
businesses. Our contractors want the opportunity to compete fairly for
renewable energy and energy efficiency work. This legislation penalizes
non-union electricians, and creates unfair competitive advantage. The
Governor must show courage and conviction and veto this bill - not be held
hostage to the IBEW that now wants to claim a new economic sector as their own
and suppress competition."

Contact: Dolores Phillips
609-516-3526

SOURCE Mid-Atlantic Solar Energy Industries Association

Dolores Phillips for the Mid-Atlantic Solar Energy Industries Association,
+1-609-516-3526