SC Applauds Fiordaliso for His Return to the BPU

The Senate voted to confirm BPU President Fiordaliso’s nomination. He has served as a Commissioner on the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) since 2005 when he was nominated by Governor Richard Cody and confirmed by the Senate.  In 2011 and 2013, President Fiordaliso was re-nominated by Governor Chris Christie and confirmed by the Senate to continue as Commissioner of the NJBPU.

“President Fiordaliso has been an outstanding leader for the BPU as president and with another term he will be able to move forward a clean energy agenda for New Jersey. He has been working to turn the BPU around with his leadership and is moving forward with Governor Murphy’s clean energy agenda. He is an outstanding leader for the BPU. He believes in climate change and knows we have to act but we have concerns and disagreements with him, especially with fossil fuels and the nuclear subsidy,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “Fiordaliso has more on his plate than other agencies when it comes to carrying out a green agenda whether is it rewriting the Energy Master Plan, rules for energy efficiency, energy storage or fixing the solar program and making offshore wind a reality. Even though he has a lot on his plate, we know he will work hard to try to get it accomplished.”

Joseph Fiordaliso was born and raised in the ironbound-section of Newark, New Jersey. He began his political career in 1988, serving on the Livingston Township Council for three terms, including three times as Mayor. In 1990 he was appointed as director of planning and economic development by the Essex County Executive.

“Fiordaliso does what the Murphy Administration wants where we sometimes agree and sometimes disagree. Our concern is that he still thinks that natural gas is a bridge fuel when it is instead a bridge to climate calamity. He has worked diligently to push through a nuclear subsidy despite having his own staff recommend against it.  The delay on the Energy Master Plan and putting together stakeholder meetings on energy efficiency are taking too long and both need to be moving quickly. BPU also has to deal with the rate cases for PSE&G and Energy Strong. Fiordaliso is a strong ally on Governor Murphy’s agenda and does the administration wants. Even though I have known Joe for a long time and respect his professionalism and competence, these issues raise concern,” said Tittel.

The Clean Energy Fund has been raided by $1.5 billion over the last 10 years. The $87.1 million will be taken from the Clean Energy Fund which is still troubling, even though it is an improvement over past year. New Jersey has major decisions looming in energy projects, including wind and solar. The solar energy sector is on the verge of collapse without an immediate fix to the program. Solar Renewable Energy Certificates are running out and we are approaching the cost cap. The solicitation for 1,100 MW in offshore wind is coming in June.

“Fiordaliso shows strong leadership as President of the BPU. He is a fresh of breath air under 8 years of Christie who undermined clean energy. Joe has been working hard to fix the agency which had been a backwater for many years. He has been working to get more money to the Clean Energy Fund and stopping the raids. He has been dealing with completed issues with solar program and cost cap. They are trying and have hired new staff for more help. These are some of the reasons why we gave the BPU the highest score on our environmental scorecard,” said Tittel.

In New Jersey there are 13 proposed fossil fuel projects that would if combined, would increase GHG’s by 32%.  The BPU have not put a stay on the Southern Reliability Link (SRL). They cannot withdraw their approval for South Jersey Gas pipeline until the Pinelands Commission acts. However the agency has been inactive on other projects like the Meadowlands Powerplant.

“President Fiordaliso is a good appointment because he is fair, and we can always talk to him. However the BPU has failed to deal with the 8 proposed natural gas pipelines and 5 powerplants. We have asked the agency for a stay on the SRL pipeline, but the BPU have yet to do so. These projects will undermine any change of getting to 100% renewable energy.  Fiordaliso will never achieve Murphy’s clean energy goals unless he puts a moratorium on new fossil fuel projects in New Jersey,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.