PSEG Opens New Energy & Environmental Resource Center
January 25 2010 - 11:15AM
PR Newswire (US)
Interactive exhibits and programming to educate visitors SALEM,
N.J., Jan. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- PSEG today hosted the grand
opening of its new Energy and Environmental Resource Center (EERC)
featuring hands on, interactive exhibits designed to promote
conversations about energy, the environment and solutions for
meeting the challenges of climate change. "The EERC reinforces
PSEG's belief that it takes a multi-faceted approach to combat
climate change," said PSEG CEO Ralph Izzo. "The exhibits highlight
the importance of clean baseload power like nuclear as well as the
role of renewables and energy efficiency. It is our hope that
visitors learn more about these important issues and how we all
play an important role in protecting our environment." Over 20,000
square feet of the 65,000 square foot facility is dedicated to
public use including 6,000 square feet of exhibit space. The EERC's
exhibits explore the impact of technology, lifestyle, and public
policy on energy consumption and the environment and challenge
visitors to consider their own energy use and carbon footprint. "I
commend PSEG for opening an Energy and Environment Resource Center
that not only educates us about the complexities of climate change,
but also shows us the many energy solutions - such as nuclear power
and offshore wind - this country has available to help meet a clean
energy future," said U.S. Senator Tom Carper, chairman of the
Senate Clean Air and Nuclear Safety subcommittee. "I believe
education centers like this one will help spark American clean
energy ingenuity - this country's greatest source of power - for
generations to come." One of the EERC's main exhibits is a mock
containment structure where visitors can learn about nuclear power
generation and explore issues like plant safety, security and used
fuel management. The EERC also is powered in part by solar panels
and a wind turbine. A real-time data monitoring system gathers and
displays information about weather conditions and energy output to
demonstrate the practical use of these technologies. In addition,
the EERC includes a multi-purpose room, high-tech classroom space
and a lab for use by school groups, teachers and others. "PSEG
continues to be forward-thinking in its approach and
community-focused in its efforts. The EERC will provide residents
with a place to search out answers about how to effectively utilize
alternative energies and the facts about the benefits of nuclear,
solar and wind energy," said U.S. Congressman Frank LoBiondo
(NJ-02). The EERC is certified for Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED) and also houses several PSEG programs
and offices as well as Salem Community College's (SCC) Nuclear
Energy Technology Associates Degree Program. Through its
partnership with the college, PSEG is providing space at the EERC
for the energy specific courses and labs, subject matter expertise,
scholarships for the first two years and paid internships at PSEG
Nuclear's Salem and Hope Creek Generating Stations. In addition,
SCC was awarded a $1.7 million federal grant through the U.S.
Department of Labor last year to assist in the development of the
program. The PSEG and SCC partnership is one of six pilot training
programs being developed by the Nuclear Energy Institute. The
community college program, along with an energy academy program for
high school students at Salem County Vocational Technical Schools,
allows PSEG to meet its future hiring needs while also meeting the
needs of the community to provide quality, high-paying jobs. The
EERC is open by appointment only. If you know a school or community
group interested in visiting, please call (856) 339-EERC (3372).
Energy & Environmental Resource Center (EERC) Key Facts What's
in the EERC? -- EERC - exhibit area, multi-purpose room, classroom
and wet lab (20,000 sq. ft. of our 65,000 sq. ft. building) --
Salem Community College Nuclear Energy Technology Program
(Classroom and lab space for an Instrumentation and Control
Associates degree program developed in partnership with PSEG, NEI
and the SCC.) -- PSEG offices for Emergency Operations Facility,
Estuary Enhancement Program, Nuclear Development, Resource Recovery
and Unified Command Center. EERC - Key Topics and Anticipated Use
-- The EERC is an educational center focused on a broad
conversation around energy and the environment. Key topics include:
-- Energy "101" -- Climate change -- Population growth --
Environmental impacts of industrialization and prosperity --
Globalization -- Portfolio of solutions -- Conservation --
Renewables -- Clean, central station power -- What can we all do
now? -- Public policy -- As communities and corporations -- As
individuals -- Exhibit area is a mixture of graphic panels,
hands-on activities, interactive touch screens and videos. This
strategic mix was designed to engage visitors (especially younger
visitors accustomed to multiple media types) and offer flexibility
to easily update the facility, keeping the exhibits modern and
relevant. -- The exhibit area and meeting, classroom and lab space
are available free of charge to community groups. Programming will
include: -- Teachers' workshops -- Educational programming for
middle school students -- Scout badges in energy and environmental
sciences -- PSEG Estuary Enhancement Program -- Political and
environmental stakeholders -- Community events -- Process: In
designing and constructing the EERC, we worked with a talented team
of architects, museum exhibit designers, media producers, exhibit
fabricators, and a general contractor. LEED Certification -- LEED
stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Issued by
the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED certification signifies that
a facility is designed and built with a consideration toward energy
savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor
environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity
to their impacts. -- The building office space (including the
Nuclear Development office area) has already received Silver
certification. -- We have applied for and expect to receive Gold
certification on the newly constructed public space in the front
half of the building (EERC). In designing and constructing the
building, we: -- Reduced water usage by 40% -- Reduced energy usage
by 25% -- Replaced 10% of the energy supply with on-site solar and
wind generation -- Selected furnishings with high recycled-content
-- Installed cork flooring (a rapidly renewing resource) --
Recycled over 90% of the construction waste Solar and Wind
Installation -- 75kW photovoltaic solar panel array installed on
the roof of the building -- 2.3kW wind turbine on the property --
An interactive station in the exhibit area monitors the output of
both systems, tracks it over time, and compares it against
real-time weather conditions. -- We anticipate the combined output
of both systems to offset approximately 10 percent of the
building's energy use. 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, Public Service Electric and Gas Company
(PSE&G) and PSEG Energy Holdings. PSEG Nuclear is part of PSEG
Power. Want to know what's new at PSEG? Go to
http://www.pseg.com/getnews and sign up to have our press releases
and weekly environmental commentaries sent right to your inbox.
DATASOURCE: Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) CONTACT: Joe
Delmar, +1-856-339-1934, or +1-856-562-5596 (Cell) Web Site:
http://www.pseg.com/
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