PSEG Says Utilities Can Play a Critical Role in Economic Recovery
March 24 2009 - 12:00PM
PR Newswire (US)
Izzo outlines $1.6 billion in utility investments that would combat
climate change, improve energy security and create jobs NEW
BRUNSWICK, N.J., March 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- PSEG Chairman,
President and CEO Ralph Izzo called today for urgent action on
energy and jobs while speaking at a conference at the Heldrich
Center for Workforce Development. "New Jersey can be a leader in
creating a clean energy industry that will stimulate the economy,
put people back to work, fight climate change and improve energy
security," Izzo said. "But we must act quickly to ensure we don't
let opportunity pass us by." Policymakers, educators, unions,
non-profits and business leaders from both green and traditional
energy companies joined together at Rutgers University for a
substantive policy discussion intended to improve efforts to
develop an energy workforce. In a keynote speech at the conference
Izzo spoke of three big challenges facing the nation: an ailing
economy, a warming planet and a reliance on foreign oil which is
affecting the nation's energy security. He pointed toward a
recovery led by the private sector, encouraged by the public sector
and supported by the American people. He called this a "historic
opportunity to invest in energy," and outlined $1.6 billion in
investments proposed by the company's utility, PSE&G, to combat
climate change, improve energy security and create jobs. They
include: -- $700 million in accelerated infrastructure investments.
-- $190 million to help bring the benefits of conservation to more
residents and small businesses in NJ cities. -- $773 million to
bring solar power into every community PSE&G serves. "The
sooner these proposals receive a green light from our regulators,
the sooner we may be able to leverage these programs to attract
federal dollars," he said. "While speeding the investment, we need
to prepare the future energy workforce. This could involve the
largest recruiting, training and workforce development effort since
the building of the electric grid a century ago," Izzo said. He
talked about the importance of partnerships with community colleges
and secondary and vocational schools, and said it is important to
reach students at the point when they are starting to think about
careers paths. The conference was co-sponsored by the John J.
Heldrich Center for Workforce Development, a university-based
research and policy center dedicated to raising the effectiveness
of the American workplace by strengthening workforce education,
placement and training programs and policies. "The roundtable
brought together many of New Jersey's leading employers, educators,
union officials, and government policymakers," said Dr. Carl Van
Horn, Professor and Director at the Heldrich Center. "Our research
shows that a coordinated approach by all these stakeholders is the
key to aligning worker training with the next generation of jobs
being created by the energy industry." For the complete text of
Izzo's remarks, please visit http://www.pseg.com/. Public Service
Enterprise Group (PSEG) (NYSE:PEG) is a publicly traded diversified
energy company with annual revenues of more than $13 billion, and
three principal subsidiaries: PSEG Power, PSEG Energy Holdings, and
Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G). PSEG Power,
one of the largest independent power producers in the U.S. has
three main subsidiaries: PSEG Fossil, PSEG Nuclear, and PSEG Energy
Resources & Trade. PSEG Energy Holdings has two main
unregulated energy-related businesses: PSEG Global and PSEG
Resources. PSE&G, New Jersey's oldest and largest regulated gas
and electric delivery utility, serves nearly three-quarters of New
Jersey's population. DATASOURCE: Public Service Enterprise Group
(PSEG) CONTACT: Jenn Kramer, +1-973-430-6027, Public Service
Enterprise Group (PSEG) Web Site: http://www.pseg.com/
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