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NJIT In Consortium For Energy Research

NJIT, New Jersey Natural Gas Company (NJNG), and Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) have received $500,000 in state funding to form the Consortium for Energy Research and Development.

The consortium, a first-of-its kind research and development public/private partnership, will focus its efforts on the development of products and service applications to improve the safety, reliability and productivity of the state's electric power and gas network systems.

In addition to the founding members, the consortium includes the state's other gas and electric utilities; Elizabethtown Gas Company, South Jersey Gas Company, GPU Energy, Rockland Electric Company and Conectiv, as well as New Jersey's higher education research universities; Rutgers, Stevens Institute of Technology, and Princeton.

"New Jersey is committed to investing in the new economy - from wiring every school for the Internet, to dedicating $50 million a year to high-tech businesses through research and development tax credits," said former Gov. Christine Whitman, who is currently U.S. Secretary of the Environmental Protection Agency. "The Consortium for Energy Research and Development focuses that same commitment on the energy industry to make sure that New Jersey's families and businesses are among the first to see the economic and environmental benefits of emerging energy technologies - enhancing New Jersey's reputation as a premiere place to live, work and do business."

The Consortium for Energy Research and Development, involving New Jersey's private sector and research universities, would advance the safety, reliability and productivity of the state's energy industries and assist in the development of new products and services through a program of pre-competitive research and technology development.

"In this era of deregulation, the need for developing expertise and resources to anticipate and solve complex energy problems -- as well as to seize and exploit new opportunities in the electric and natural gas industries -- grows ever more important," said Herbert Tate, former president of the New Jersey Board of Utilities and current professor of energy studies at NJIT. "If we accept the status quo, it won't be long before we're left behind."

An executive committee, chaired by NJNG Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Laurence Downes, will set priorities and goals for the consortium, including identification of those New Jersey projects which may be eligible for funding by the U.S. Department of Energy.

"Investment in system reliability is the backbone of a safe, sound and secure energy delivery system upon which our customers depend and to which they are entitled," said Downes. "There is a lot of cutting-edge technology on the horizon that may well offer more efficient and better ways to further enhance our existing utility systems. It not only is our job, but, more importantly, our responsibility to customers to pursue those opportunities and technologies."

The unique strength of the consortium will be in building interdisciplinary project teams to leverage the resources of professional staff at private industries, universities, and state, federal and local government agencies to expeditiously accomplish both short- and long-term goals.

"The consortium represents a new model for driving innovation with benefits to society, industrial partners and academe," said NJIT President Saul K. Fenster http://www.njit.edu/Directory/Officers/President/Welcome.html . "Collectively, the energy partners can draw on expertise and advanced facilities that are not part of their existing technical infrastructure, yet vital to adopting next-generation approaches to improved safety and reliability. The university derives the benefit of real-world involvement in areas that focus academic research to have maximum benefit and connect faculty and students more firmly into the practice of their profession and the needs of our state."

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