New Jerseys Dependence on Imported Coal

In 2008, New Jersey imported all the coal used by its power plants, resulting in $347 million leaving the state, including $93 million for international imports from countries such as Indonesia and Venezuela. While coal provided 14.1% of in-state electricity production, the state's overall energy demand exceeded its generation by 26%. The document argues that New Jersey can reduce this dependence by adopting energy efficiency resource standards and leveraging its technical potential for solar, bioenergy, and offshore wind, noting a state requirement for renewables to supply approximately 22% of power needs by 2020.

• In 2008, New Jersey imported 100% of the coal used by its power plants, with some sourced from Indonesia. This resulted in a total of $347 million being sent out of state to pay for these imports.
• New Jersey ranked 7th among profiled states for spending on international coal imports, totaling $93 million. Specific international expenditures included $65 million to Indonesia and $28 million to Venezuela.
• Coal accounted for 14.1% of New Jersey's in-state electricity production in 2008. However, the state's retail customers purchased 26% more power than the state generated internally, suggesting further imports of electricity that may have been coal-derived.
• New Jersey has the technical capacity to meet 30% of its 2008 electricity requirements through renewable energy, specifically solar and bioenergy. Additionally, the state has mandated that utilities provide approximately 22% of power from renewable resources by 2020.
• The document suggests that New Jersey could increase energy independence by adopting energy efficiency resource standards. In 2007, the state spent over $11 per person on ratepayer-funded efficiency programs, which reduced electricity use by 0.3%, though this spending was 3.5 times less than the state's expenditure on imported coal.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (2010). New Jerseys Dependence on Imported Coal. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/UCS-BCBC-factsheet-New-Jersey.pdf

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. New Jerseys Dependence on Imported Coal. 2010. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/UCS-BCBC-factsheet-New-Jersey.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=New Jerseys Dependence on Imported Coal |date=May 2010 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/UCS-BCBC-factsheet-New-Jersey.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientists2010new, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{New Jerseys Dependence on Imported Coal}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2010}, month = may, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/UCS-BCBC-factsheet-New-Jersey.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }