New Jersey § 13:1d-134

§ 13:1d-134.

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 non-profit 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.