Assemblyman Ralph Caputo (D-Essex) has introduced legislation requiring critical businesses and facilities – including gas stations, refineries and nursing homes – to have generators in the event of power outages and providing low-interest government loans to help ease the cost.
“Ultimately, our aim is to protect the health and safety of our most vulnerable residents while ensuring that our state does not come to a standstill during any future crisis,” said Caputo (D-Essex). “The delivery of critical goods and services, especially fuel, are an imperative to keep our economy running. It’s frustrating to think that the gasoline crisis we witnessed due to power outages could have been avoided.
“This bill will make sure that future power outages don’t push New Jerseyans into long, stressful lines and bring commerce to a halt. At the same time, we also need to be cognizant of the need to help out these businesses, many of which are small and independently owned and consequently would be hit hard by such an upgrade. We can do that by offering low-interest loans and get this done for the benefit of everyone.”
Specifically, the bill (A-3064) would require retail motor fuel dealers, motor fuel wholesalers, motor fuel terminal facilities, motor fuel refineries, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, sub-acute rehabilitation facilities, and grocery stores to be equipped with and employ a generator in the event of a power outage.
The bill would also require the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to offer financial assistance in the form of low-interest loans to these eligible businesses for the purchase and installation of a generator.