Alternative Energy Generation Opportunities in Critical Infrastructure: New Jersey

Following Hurricane Sandy in October 2012, the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management (OEM) requested letters of intent (LOI) from communities across the state impacted by the hurricane and seeking funding through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), which provides funding for public buildings. Nearly 640 of the LOIs submitted requested backup energy generation systems, indicating a need for more resilient energy systems. As a result, a cross-agency effort was initiated to identify critical infrastructure in New Jersey and opportunities for more resilient distributed generation systems. The NJ OEM, Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, Department of Environmental Protection, the Governor's Office of Recovery and Rebuilding (GORR), and the NJ Board of Public Utilities (BPU) have been working collaboratively with the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to identify energy needs of critical infrastructure and life-safety facilities across the state to ensure continuous operation through future disaster events. The following report describes the findings from the critical infrastructure energy questionnaire and site visits, resilient DG technology and policy opportunities, and the financial assessment of resilient DG systems.