(TRENTON) - An Assembly panel approved on Monday legislation sponsored by Assembly Dmeocrats Vincent Mazzeo, Wayne DeAngelo, L. Grace Spencer, Troy Singleton and John McKeon to encourage wind energy projects in New Jersey. 

One of the measures, ACR-143, sponsored by Mazzeo, urges President and Congress to reinstate and extend production tax credit for wind energy in order to promote job creation, economic growth, and environmental benefits. 

The second measure, AR-209, urges the BPU to adopt regulations needed to facilitate the construction of offshore wind energy projects pursuant to the 

"Offshore Wind Economic Development Act" and establish energy efficiency portfolio standards pursuant to the "Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act." The legislation is sponsored by Mazzeo, DeAngelo, Spencer, Singleton and McKeon. 

Although the BPU has had the authority to adopt electric and gas efficiency standards for seven years as per the "Global Warming Response Act," it has yet to do so, Mazzeo noted. The board also has failed to implement an offshore wind renewable energy certificate program that would require a percentage of electricity sold in New Jersey to come from wind energy. 

"Offshore wind projects can deliver real economic benefits for New Jersey, so it's important that the BPU adopt these regulations and allow our state to take full advantage of those opportunities," said Mazzeo (D-Atlantic). "Wind energy will help reduce our reliance on foreign oil, and the manufacturing jobs that projects create can help put residents of the Atlantic City region back to work at this critical time."

"It's time to move forward with wind energy projects in the state," said DeAngelo (D-Mercer, Middlesex). "It's time for New Jersey to capitalize on clean energy production and, to, finally, set the state on a path to a greener future." 

"Fostering wind energy projects will help reduce the effects of climate change, create jobs and boost the economy," said Spencer (D-Essex). "It's time to stop standing in the way of wind power production and secure New Jersey's future in clean energy."

"Other states are already enjoying the benefits of wind power energy," Singleton (D-Burlington). "These projects are critically important to New Jersey's environmental health and economic growth over the next few years."

"There's no more time to waste," said McKeon. (D-Essex, Morris). "Jump starting wind power energy projects will help reduce pollution, potentially ease energy costs for residents and prepare New Jersey for a greener, more sustainable future."

Both measures were released by the Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee.