Businesses would receive a larger share of energy efficiency funds under three NJBIA-backed bills that received hearings in the Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee on May 17. The measures would help save energy and reduce carbon emissions by making it easier for businesses to invest in energy conservation and clean-energy technology like wind and solar power.

Testifying before the committee, NJBIA Assistant Vice President Sara Bluhm stated that commercial and industrial users consume more than 60 percent of the energy sold in New Jersey, and that incentives for clean energy would improve New Jersey’s business climate by helping to reduce New Jersey’s high energy costs. New Jersey’s industrial users pay the fourth highest electricity costs in the nation and commercial users, the 11th highest costs.

"If our State's goal is to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and conserve our energy resources, it makes sense to focus on business projects," Bluhm told the committee. "Manufacturing facilities, retail outlets, office buildings and other commercial facilities simply offer a bigger bang for our buck."

The committee released one of the NJBIA-backed bills—A-3859 (Karrow, Chivukula), which would allocate $6 million annually from the retail margin surcharge to fund energy audits for industrial and commercial energy users. The retail margin surcharge was imposed during energy deregulation in the late 1990s. NJBIA also supports A-4083 (Chivukula, Karrow), which would give businesses equal opportunity to apply for energy incentives and funding regardless of their location, and A-4084 (Karrow, Chivukula), which would divide societal benefit revenues into residential, small commercial and large commercial and industrial ratepayer funds. Both bills were scheduled for a May 17 vote, but the measures were held by the committee.

Clean-energy projects are funded through a surcharge on all energy bills called the societal benefit charge. Because commercial and industrial users consume more than 60 percent of the electricity in New Jersey, they contribute more to the clean-energy fund than residential users. Yet more clean-energy efficiency funds are used in residential projects than in commercial and industrial projects. These bills would bring business funding more in line with business contributions. For more information, contact at ext. 204.

Bill Extending Prevailing Wage to BEIP Grant Recipients Clears Assembly Committee—All businesses receiving Business Employment Incentive Program (BEIP) grants would have to pay expensive prevailing wages on their construction projects under legislation released May 14 by the Assembly Labor Committee. NJBIA strongly opposes the bill, S-2247 (Sweeney), because it would vastly limit the attractiveness of the State’s most effective job-creation program.

Prevailing wages drive up the cost of construction projects by 10 to 25 percent, forcing contractors to pay union-scale wages even if they don’t employ union workers. Prevailing wage requirements are usually reserved for publicly funded projects. S-2247 would force any company that receives a BEIP grant to pay prevailing wages on construction projects they undertake themselves. If that company occupies 55 percent of a property, its landlord or developer would have to pay prevailing wage for construction projects on that property. For many employers, paying prevailing wages would nullify any benefits received from BEIP grants. For more information, contact at ext. 247.

Nominate Your Company for an Award for Excellence by May 25—NJBIA annually presents its Awards for Excellence to member companies that excel in job creation, environmental protection, human resources management, and public service. Don’t miss this opportunity to have your business’s accomplishments recognized. The deadline for nominations is May 25, and all NJBIA member companies are eligible. Nominations are being accepted in four categories: Job Creation; Environmental Quality, for enhancing the quality of the environment; Outstanding Employer, for forward-looking approaches to managing human resources; and Public Service, for outstanding service to the community. For more information, contact at 609-393-7707, ext. 239. You can also download the nomination forms.

Eleven Projects Win 2007 New Good Neighbor Awards—Eleven new construction and renovation projects will be honored Friday, June 1, at the 47th Annual New Good Neighbor Awards Luncheon. Hosted by NJBIA and New Jersey Business Magazine, the event will be held from 11:45 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Sheraton at Woodbridge Place. The cost to attend is $70 per person. Register online now, or contact at 609-393-7707, ext. 239, for more information. To become a sponsor, contact at ext. 219. This year's winners are:

• Business Development Incubator at New Jersey City University, Jersey City
• Hovnanian Enterprises Inc., Red Bank
• Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, West Orange
• Laurel Creek Corporate Center, Mt. Laurel
• Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center at Basking Ridge
• Middle Atlantic Products, Inc., Fairfield
• Plainfield Animal Hospital, South Plainfield
• Somerset County Vocational School's Performing Arts and Technology Center, Bridgewater
• The Publick House, Chester
• Verizon Operations Center, Basking Ridge
• Wachovia Bank, N.A., Trenton

Employer Legislative Committees State Dinner, June 20—Don't miss New Jersey's top two law enforcement officials, NJ Attorney General Stuart Rabner and US Attorney Christopher Christie, who will be the featured speakers at the State Employer Legislative Committee (ELC) Dinner sponsored by Bank of America. The dinner is one of New Jersey's top networking events, where you will get the chance to meet the State's top business leaders over dinner.

This event will be held at the Hyatt Regency Princeton. Cocktails are at 6:00 p.m. and the dinner is at 7:00 p.m. Register online now, or download our event flyer. For additional information, contact at 609-393-7707, ext. 219.

Raise Your Visibility. Become an Event Sponsor—Golf & Tennis Day. NJBIA's Meet the Decision Makers series. First-rate events like these offer your company an excellent opportunity to reach their target audiences and heighten their visibility as an event sponsor. Learn more about becoming an NJBIA sponsor online or contact at 609-393-7707, ext. 219.