To the Editor:

In an April 14 press release the municipality of Princeton announced the Princeton Community Renewable Energy (PCRE) Program, having signed a contract with Constellation NewEnergy (CNE) on behalf of Princeton residents to provide electricity that is slightly less (3.5%) expensive and with a 50% (compared to the current 24%) renewable energy content, with 100% renewable content available at a slightly higher price. Princeton residents who have PSE&G as their electricity supplier are automatically enrolled in this Program but may opt out at any time.

Unfortunately, what the PCRE Program actually offers is significantly dirtier electricity with a true renewable energy content of less than 4%.

By law all New Jersey energy suppliers must provide an Environmental Information Disclosure Statement which lists the fuels used to generate the electricity they supply. This enables consumers to compare suppliers and use a supplier that sells cleaner electricity. Suppliers such as CNE that make no effort to provide cleaner energy are allowed use the average power plant fuel usage over the entire grid. Suppliers such as PSE&G that do claim to provide cleaner energy must supply proof to the NJ Bureau of Public Utilities which in turn validates this assertion. These Disclosure Statements are available on the CNE and PSE&G websites.

Comparing these two Disclosure Statements shows that CNE electricity is generated by burning 42% more coal than PSE&G. Choosing CNE as an energy supplier will therefore result in a 14% increase in carbon emissions, a 23% increase in sulfur oxides emissions, an 18% increase in nitrogen oxides emissions in addition to higher particulate emissions (PM2.5) as well as higher mercury and other toxic metals emissions, compared to PSE&G. Renewable energy content for both suppliers is less than 4%, virtually inconsequential.

The stated renewable energy content (50/100/24%) of both suppliers is conjured up by combining the fossil and nuclear generated power with renewable energy certificates (RECs) costing probably less than 0.2 cents/kWh.  A REC certifies that 1 megawatt hour of renewable electricity has been generated; the electricity itself is immediately sold. Meanwhile the certificate, really just a wisp in the ether, is sold separately.Originally, this was a way for the renewable generator to improve its economic viability. Over time, the REC has taken on an almost spiritual significance and is now alleged to represent the positive environmental attributes of renewable energy. In reality it has become part of a phantasmagorical marketing scheme that magically transforms fossil and nuclear electricity into renewable energy itself.
As shown by the Disclosure Statements of both suppliers, this is complete fakery. The only good news is that this is only an 18-month contract, and the damage to the environment will be minimal.

Princeton residents should not be fooled by this bait and switch scheme. To avoid increasing emissions from their electricity consumption, they should without hesitation opt out of the PCRE Program. Also, the municipality should, at least in a token nod to reality, change the name of the Program to the Princeton Community Energy Program.

Alfred Cavallo
Western Way