O'Scanlon Commends BPU for Assessing Impact of Prevailing Wage on Clean Energy Projects

Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon, R-Monmouth and Mercer, welcomed testimony from Board of Public Utilities President Lee Solomon that the agency is assessing the impact of a law requiring prevailing wage on clean energy projects.

The law was signed during the lame duck session of the NJ Legislature by then Acting Governor & Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney, Sweeney, a union organizer for the International Association of Ironworkers, blatantly disregarded the substantial increase in construction costs the measure will impose upon the taxpaying public. As a union organizer the Senate President has a clear conflict of interest in any Legislation that mandates expansion of prevailing wages.

Assemblyman O'Scanlon is confident the review by the BPU will confirm Trade Organization’s and environmental group claims that prevailing wage is a hindrance to expanding the use of green energy saving systems and products throughout New Jersey. Green Energy Projects affected by the law are Solar Voltaic Systems, Energy Efficient Lighting, Heating and Air Conditioning Systems and more.

"I am confident that this analysis will confirm what several environmental and business groups have told us: clean energy projects are not proceeding because mandating prevailing wage is making clean energy projects too expensive," O'Scanlon said. "I want people to earn decent wages, but they won't be earning anything if no one is working on clean energy projects because of expensive mandates that increase costs by up 40 percent."

Assemblyman O'Scanlon is the sponsor of A-2370, which if passed would repeal the prevailing wage mandate on Green Energy Projects,

A-2370 would create jobs by making Green Energy Project more affordable for the taxpayers of New Jersey.

"We all want to reduce energy consumption and lower utility bills, but businesses are not going to invest in our environment if costs are prohibitive," O'Scanlon said. "This issue is one of the few examples on which the business and environmental communities agree. Lifting this requirement will result in more projects that will help the environment and put more people back to work in these trying economic times."