Press Releases
September 9, 2007
Major Environmental and Economic Group Joins NJ Affordable, Clean Reliable Energy Coalition
Cites Need for Nuclear in a ‘Balanced’ Energy Policy
The New Jersey Society for Environmental, Economic Development (SEED) has joined the growing membership of the Affordable, Clean, Reliable Energy Coalition (NJ ACRE) following a unanimous vote by its board of directors, it was announced today.
“As New Jersey’s premier business and labor organization, NJ SEED believes in a balanced approach to all policy decisions,” said Joseph McNamara, president of NJ SEED. “New Jersey’s energy production portfolio should include the cleanest most efficient means of production from diverse sources including nuclear power.”
For more than 30 years NJ SEED, a coalition of statewide labor and business leaders, has been leading voice for environmental balance and economic growth within New Jersey. NJ SEED’s membership includes labor advocates, energy providers, environmental consultants, telecommunications firms, banks, educators and health care interests across the state.
“The Coalition’s goal to meet our state’s growing demands for clean and reliable energy by adding to our nuclear generation capacity is enthusiastically endorsed by NJ SEED members. It is the most responsible way to achieve energy independence without sacrificing our vital economy,” said James C. Morford, Executive Director of NJ SEED. “A future with greater nuclear generation of electricity is far less threatening to our national and regional interests than a future without it.”
Dr. Edward Salmon, Chairman of NJ ACRE and a trustee of NJ SEED, said he is pleased to see leading statewide organizations like NJ SEED publicly supporting sources of clean, affordable energy – including nuclear power, like that produced at the Oyster Creek Generating Station.
“This Coalition was formed to help build the kind of consensus that leads to smart and workable solutions to meet New Jersey’s rising energy environmental demands,” Dr. Salmon said. “To succeed, we must work closely with our members and with leading individuals and organizations across the state.”
The Coalition membership, which continues to grow, consists of local and state-wide leaders and leadership organizations representing the environmental, business, labor, academic, health, and civic communities. A partial list of current members includes:
- • African American Environmentalist Association
- • Chemistry Council of NJ
- • Commerce & Industry Association of NJ
- • Fish Hawks (Lacey Township-based organization)
- • International Union of Painters & Allied Trades
- • New Jersey Chamber of Commerce
- • New Jersey Society for Environmental, Economic Development (NJ SEED)
- • NJ Alliance for Action
- • NJ Business & Industry Association
- • Plumbers and Pipefitters (Union Local 322 and Local 9)
- • Southern NJ Developmental Council
The Coalition also includes distinguished New Jerseyans such as:
- • The Honorable Jeremiah O'Connor (former State Senator and former New Jersey BPU Commissioner)
- • The Honorable Connie Hughes (former New Jersey BPU Commissioner)
- • The Honorable Carol Murphy (former New Jersey State Legislator & former New Jersey BPU Commissioner)
- • Dr. Fred Abbate (past Executive Director of the New Jersey Utilities Association)
- • William Young (Former Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy in the U.S. Department of Energy)
- • The Honorable Brian A. Reid (Mayor of Lacey Township)
To learn more, please visit www.NJACRE.org
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The mission of the NJ Affordable, Clean, Reliable Energy Coalition is to generate public support for the production of clean, reliable, affordable, American energy to meet New Jersey's growing energy needs. The Coalition seeks to achieve this goal through increasing the public's awareness of the need to keep existing clean energy providers operational and to promote and support the development of new affordable clean sources.
The Coalition's immediate focus is to generate public support for renewal of the operating license of Oyster Creek Generating Station. The Coalition will increase public awareness about the benefits of Oyster Creek and the important role nuclear power plays in meeting New Jersey's electricity needs.
For more information, please contact:
Maury Donahue
for NJ ACRE
Phone:+1 (856) 308 3656
Maury@njacre.com