New Jersey may be the Garden State — but can it be known as green in other ways as well? Gov. James McGreevey (D) thinks it can, and he’s embarking on an ambitious plan to make the state a national leader in clean energy. Earlier this year, the state government agreed to purchase at least 12 percent of the electricity it consumes from renewable energy ventures. Last week, McGreevey convened a state energy summit, bringing together energy industry leaders, regulators, and local government officials to discuss ways to encourage clean energy consumption in New Jersey. The governor also appealed to colleagues in other states to create and implement energy-efficiency standards for common products ranging from ceiling fans to traffic lights. State leadership on clean energy issues is all the more important, McGreevey said, in light of the Bush administration’s failure to prioritize the issue.
