BPU Approves Energy Efficiency Incentive for Port Authority

On Jun 13, 2019

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) approves a financial incentive of $1.3 million for the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (Port Authority) to make energy efficiency improvements to two buildings – Terminal B and Building 80 – at Newark Liberty International Airport. The funds are available through the state’s Large Energy Users Program (LEUP), which is part of New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program (NJCEP). The project will have an estimated annual energy cost savings of $439,998, as well an annual operational and maintenance savings of $158,670.

“Energy efficiency is one of the most cost-effective strategies for fulfilling the Governor’s pledge to achieve 100 percent clean energy by 2050,” said NJBPU President Joseph L. Fiordaliso. “Working with large energy users to reduce their costs and usage is a long-term win-win for the environment and for rate-payers.”

With the incentive approved today, Port Authority proposes to:

Upgrade the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) controls on the existing systems in the two buildings, and add Variable Frequency Drives (a controller that regulates frequency and voltage in an electric motor), upgraded motors, and new carbon dioxide (CO2) sensors to the HVAC units, to conserve energy while maintaining safe ventilation levels;

Replace its existing chiller system (a compression machine that helps keep other equipment cool) and chilled water pumps in Building 80 with higher efficiency models, and;

Install more efficient exterior LED fixtures and lamps at numerous locations around the airport, including Buildings 1, 79, 80, Terminal A, the New Jersey Transit Newark Airport station, Parking Lots Pl-P9, Parking Lots E and F, Airport Roadways, Terminal C Garage, and South Bay Cargo Area.

“As the first U.S. public transportation facility to embrace the Paris Climate Agreement, the Port Authority continues to be deeply committed to sustainability programs that provide a cleaner environment at Newark Liberty and all of our facilities,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole.

“From converting to a 100 percent electric shuttle bus fleet at our airports to pioneering all-electric equipment at our marine terminals and implementing more utilization of solar and other renewable energy sources, these measures are critical to hitting our aggressive targets to reduce GHGs and lessen the agency’s environmental impact on local communities. We’re grateful to the BPU for their action.”

The entire project is anticipated to conserve 3,097,908 kWh of electricity and 86,564 therms of natural gas each year. It will reduce peak demand by 527 kW annually. Based on the annual estimated savings, the project’s payback period with incentives is 11.4 years.

Incentives through the LEUP program are awarded based upon an extensive application process to customers who satisfy eligibility and program requirements for investing in self-directed energy projects that are customized to meet the requirements of the customers’ existing facilities, while advancing the State’s energy efficiency, conservation, and greenhouse gas reduction goals. LEUP is open to the state’s largest commercial and industrial energy users.

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