Murphy's clean energy goals include nuclear in long-awaited master plan

Gov. Phil Murphy unveiled his long-awaited energy master plan for the state on Monday, calling for more investment in renewable energy, such as solar and wind, and throwing support behind nuclear energy to lower New Jersey's contribution to global warming. 

The 108-page draft report lays out an ambitious plan to convert New Jersey's electricity production to 100 percent clean energy by 2050. 

But not all of that will come from renewable sources like solar and wind, which currently make up only 5 percent of the state's power sector. The report defines clean energy as "carbon neutral," which means eliminating carbon emissions or capturing them with carbon removal techniques.

To achieve that, the state would ambitiously install offshore wind and solar energy,  and support nuclear energy.

Murphy called the plan "a roadmap toward achieving a 100% clean energy economy by 2050 while creating thousands of jobs and reducing the effects of climate change." 

While nuclear power plants do not emit large amounts of carbon into the atmosphere, they produce significant radioactive waste that has been stored at the plants for decades.

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The reliance on nuclear is not surprising. In April, the Murphy administration approved a controversial $300 million annual subsidy paid through residents' electric bills to keep open Public Service Enterprise Group's three nuclear reactors in Salem County.

The company said it would have closed the facilities without the bailout, laying off hundreds and forcing New Jersey to rely more on power plants that burn natural gas, a key contributor to climate change.

About 95 percent of electricity generated in New Jersey comes from natural-gas-powered plants and nuclear facilities. 

While the report is ambitious, it recognizes the "significant gap" between 2050 goals and today’s energy system. Among them: 

• In 2018, 52% of New Jersey's electricity was generated from natural gas, 43% from nuclear plants and 5% from renewable sources, with solar making up the bulk of the renewable energy production. Nuclear's contribution is expected to drop to 32% after the 2018 closing of the Oyster Creek nuclear power plant in Ocean County.
• The vast majority of New Jersey's transportation sector is currently fueled by petroleum.
• More than 85 percent of homes are heated with fossil fuels.

Murphy has made some moves toward renewable energy, most recently setting a goal of 3,500 megawatts for offshore wind generation by 2030 to power as many as 1.5 million New Jersey homes.

The energy master plan received mostly positive reactions from many of the state's leading environmental advocacy groups on Monday. 

Ed Potosnak, of the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters, a steady supporter of Murphy's initiatives, praised the plan, saying it sends a strong message "to other states that we are committed to the phase out of fossil fuels."

Jeff Tittel, executive director of the New Jersey Sierra Club, said the plan reiterated many of the goals Murphy outlined in his first 18 months on the job. But Tittel said the plan does not go as far as it should, after recent studies by Rutgers University and other scientists show that New Jersey will be affected even more by rising sea levels. 

The plan was issued on a day when legislators and a coalition of environmental groups called Empower NJ gathered in Trenton and called on Murphy to take a hard stance against several fossil fuel projects planned for the state. 

Among the projects are a power plant in the Meadowlands to produce electricity for New York, two pipelines through the protected Pinelands, and the Penn East pipeline from Pennsylvania through Central Jersey. 

Murphy denied permits last week for the Transco NESE natural gas pipeline, which would have gone under Raritan Bay to New York. 

The plan released Monday described seven strategies to lower New Jersey's carbon footprint. They include bolstering electric vehicle infrastructure, developing more offshore wind, adding community solar and other renewable initiatives, and providing more training for clean energy jobs.

Whether any of the goals will be met is uncertain, considering there will be several governors between now and 2050 who could drastically alter Murphy's plan. 

Gov. Jon Corzine's energy master plan called for renewable energy sources to generate 30 percent of New Jersey's energy needs by 2020. A few years later, Gov. Chris Christie cut those renewable goals and placed an increased emphasis on natural gas and nuclear.

Six stakeholder meetings will be held to elicit feedback before the final plan is published.

Check back for updates to this story.