Saying more research was needed, the Cherry Hill Township Council on Tuesday night took no action on a proposal for a Township-governed energy pool that by 2030 would provide residences with electricity from only renewable sources.
By not acting on the ordinance, the Council sends the proposal to Cherry Hill voters for a decision at the general election next fall. Under state law, the council could have adopted the ordinance without making changes, could have voted down the ordinance or, as it did, it could do nothing and let the voters decide at November's election.
The proposed ordinance requiring the community energy aggregation program followed a petition drive this year managed by nonprofit Food & Water Watch of Washington, D.C. that gathered more than 1,700 signatures of residents.
Several Council members, and some members of the public who testified, expressed concern over the aggregation program's rule that automatically enlists all homeowners. A homeowner who would not want to be a part of the pool and would prefer to buy from another supplier would need to opt out of the program.Â
Council members said communicating the opt-out choice would be important, especially for senior citizens.
» MORE: Cherry Hill Township Council to consider electricity aggregation plan.
Under the proposed ordinance, 60% of the electricity provided through the pool to the town must come from renewable sources beginning in 2022. The percentage increases over time and, by January 2030, all energy sold would need to come from the renewable resources.
In past decades, electric utilities such as Public Service Electric & Gas were regulated monopolies, generating electricity and transmitting it to homes. PSE&G continues to transmit the energy, but users can select competing electricity suppliers other than the default choice, which is PSE&G. Also, PSE&G continues to remedy power emergencies or deal with a homeowner's line problem.
Under the proposed energy aggregation ordinance, the Township would oversee the pool of electricity offered over PSE&G lines to its residents. Companies providing electricity from renewable sources would bid on the contract to be the supplier for Cherry Hill residents. Non-residential, commercial, customers could opt into the energy pool.
People who spoke at the meeting, including the Council members, said they are in favor of improving the environment by moving away from non-renewable power. But they said there are more questions than answers, including whether a community-wide energy pool would save money or cost more.
"I would like to wait, to do more research," Greg Bruno, of West Miami Avenue, told Council members. "I want the environment to be clean. And I want to pay as little as possible for my energy and other utilities."
Anne Einhorn, of Edgemoor Road, who follows and speaks out on many Township issues, called for the Council to take no action and have the voters decide next fall. She said the mayor and Council should do more research to find out if the energy pool would be in the interest of all residents.
Some residents urged the Council to vote yes and adopt the ordinance at the meeting.
Christine Betson-Smith, of Pendleton Drive, asked the Council members to vote yes "for a sustainable Cherry Hill." She said she hoped Council members "share my hope for a cleaner and better Cherry Hill for our children and grandchildren."
Another resident, Chris Baeckstrom, of Brondesbury Drive, urged the Council to vote in favor of the ordinance at the meeting because it would move the Township "in the right direction" one year sooner than sending it to voters for a decision next November.
