WASHINGTON – Congressman Leonard Lance (NJ-07) issued the following statement on the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.

“The celebration of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day should serve as a reminder that United States must adopt a national energy policy that reduces our dependence on foreign oil, ensures our national security and leads us on a path toward cleaner, more efficient energy. This means increasing production of American-made energy in an environmentally safe way while promoting conservation and greater efficiency.

“The State of New Jersey has been a national leader in developing and promoting the use of clean energy alternatives like nuclear and solar.

“Nuclear energy provides the Garden State with nearly 50 percent of its power, producing carbon-free electricity at a lower price per megawatt-hour than fossil-fueled plants.

“New Jersey also serves as a shining example that ‘going green’ makes good environmental and economic sense. More and more New Jersey businesses are harnessing the power of solar energy — creating green jobs and helping the state economy.

“In my congressional district, companies like South Plainfield’s Petra Solar have grown from 10 employees one year ago to 100 employees today. Fed Ex and BP Solar recently unveiled the Nation’s largest rooftop solar energy project at the FedEx Ground distribution center in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey. This innovative clean energy project will produce 2.6 million kilowatt hours of electricity a year, enough to cover about 30 percent of the FedEx hub's annual energy needs.

“And I recently toured the 18-acre ‘solar garden’ that came on-line late last year at Mars Chocolate North America in Hackettstown. Some 28,000 solar panels generate up to 2 megawatts of electricity, meeting one-fifth of the factory's needs.

“As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day we must also recognize the State of New Jersey’s leadership in promoting an energy policy that is fiscally responsible, stimulates the economy, creates jobs and protects the environment.”

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