13:1D-134 Findings, declarations relative to development, promotion of energy, environmental technology.

1. The Legislature finds and declares that it is in the public interest to encourage new businesses to locate in the State and assist existing enterprises to remain and expand in the State by facilitating the development and commercial use of technology-based environmental and energy-related products, services and systems in the State that abate and prevent environmental pollution and promote energy conservation in a cost-effective manner; that there is a need to stimulate and encourage the development of such products within the State by providing technical assistance for the development of technologies with commercial applications so that the commercial use of these technologies can be expedited; that advances in environmental and energy technology can be achieved through the formation of alliances between individuals seeking such assistance and technology-based businesses, industry, research universities, utility companies, government agencies and third party investors; that collaboration between the public and private sectors in technology development can expedite the commercial use of technologies and represents an effective way to leverage resources, pool talents and accelerate the growth and expansion of innovative business and industry in the State; and that private/public partnerships will realize expanded economic growth in the State and will enhance New Jersey's ability to be nationally and globally recognized as the center for the advancement of environmental and energy-related technologies.

The Legislature further finds and declares that it is the mission of the Department of Environmental Protection to preserve, sustain, protect and enhance the environment and ensure the integration of high environmental quality, public health and economic vitality; that through partnerships with the general public, businesses, environmental communities, and all levels of government, the Department of Environmental Protection can assure that pollution is efficiently prevented and the best technology is planned for, and applied to, long-term environmental goals; that the New Jersey Corporation for Advanced Technology, a nonprofit organization whose membership is composed of technology-based businesses, industries, research universities, utility companies, government agencies and third party investors, has as its mission the development, retention and growth of technology-based businesses that develop and employ energy and environmental technologies; and that the Department of Environmental Protection must implement a cost-effective and technically sound method to verify the operations and performance of new energy and environmental technologies to maximize the benefits of potential environmental improvements through innovative energy and environmental technologies.

The Legislature therefore determines that it is in the public interest for the Department of Environmental Protection and the New Jersey Corporation for Advanced Technology to enter into a performance partnership agreement and thereby establish and implement an energy and environmental technology verification program for the purposes of identifying, evaluating, verifying, and expediting the commercial use of innovative energy and environmental technologies that provide significant environmental benefits to the State by providing technical guidance, coordinating the required approvals and reviews, and revising the regulatory framework affecting the development and commercial use of these technologies; that the New Jersey Corporation for Advanced Technology can ensure the maximum effectiveness of these innovative energy and environmental technologies with the support of private industry, State government, utilities, not-for-profit corporations, academia, and the investment community; that the New Jersey Corporation for Advanced Technology can provide a process for conformance and validation of environmental, operational and overall performance evaluation of innovative energy and environmental technology; that the New Jersey Corporation for Advanced Technology can recommend technologies for further development, because its standards for verification of technologies are at least as stringent as the requirements of the Department of Environmental Protection; and that by implementing a verification process that ensures technologies can perform within acceptable methods of quality assurance, the Department of Environmental Protection and the New Jersey Corporation for Advanced Technology will accomplish their goals of preventing contamination and pollution in the State while achieving and preserving high environmental quality and promoting a healthier, richer economy in the State.

L.1999,c.400,s.1.