PETRONKO AND SCRUDATO "KEEP SOUTH PLAINFIELD MOVING FORWARD" WITH THEIR GREEN ENERGY PLAN

This week Democratic Councilmembers Ray Petronko and Joe Scrudato wanted to inform the residents of how they plan to keep South Plainfield moving forward with Green Energy initiatives. "Energy charges are one of the largest line items in the borough budget" said Finance Committee Chairman Ray Petronko. He continued, "When we replaced the street lights on Hamilton Boulevard, there was a savings each month in our electric bill. This was because the lights were not only decorative, but energy efficient as well. Knowing this, Mayor Butrico and the Democratic majority decided it was time to take a hard look at where energy dollars are being spent and come with some new cost saving measures. The result was an audit of our street lighting which determined that as the town has grown and changed, a number of street lights were in locations that are not useful or necessary anymore. We asked Public Service to turn these lights off, and in doing so we have and will continue to save $50,000 a year."

Councilman Joe Scrudato added to his running mate's comments "In addition to electrical usage, we are auditing our water usage for possible savings as well. In September, the Democratic controlled council hired a professional, with grant funds made available from the state, to begin an energy audit. This audit will look at energy usage in all of our Borough owned buildings and provide recommendations to make our energy usage more environmentally friendly and less costly. Based upon these recommendations the Democrats will implement projects which will provide a quick return on investment. Increasing efficiency, applying conservation measures, and cutting out waste will drastically reduce our energy costs." Joe continued "Ray and I both have children. We want the world to be a better place for them and our grandchildren. We know that Green Energy isn't just a buzz word. It is something we all need to embrace. The future depends on it."

Ray Petronko added "In these challenging times we need to be innovative and forward thinking. Old problems need to be looked at with a new perspective. The Democrats are committed to continuing to improve the quality of life of the residents of South Plainfield. Our Green Energy Plan is just one way we will continue moving our town in the right direction.