For Immediate Release:
June 13, 2022

Commissioners call for action to increase energy independence and lower energy costs

FREEHOLD, NJ – The Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners is, once again, calling on federal and state policymakers to take immediate action to adopt policies that will help lead to energy independence and lower costs in the United States and New Jersey.

“My fellow Commissioners and I passed a resolution back in March calling on our federal and state policymakers to take action as we saw fuel prices rising at the fastest pace recorded since 2000 and nothing has been done,” said Commissioner Director Thomas A. Arnone. “Three months later, we are mid-way through the year and starting to see the startling effects that fuel prices are having on County operations.”

“As of today, we are on track to spend three times as much on fuel in 2022 than we did in 2020. We want our residents to know that we are working hard to maintain services while also balancing our budget, but we need our policymakers to provide relief,” said Commissioner Director Arnone.

Measures the County has already taken to offset increasing costs include the installation of solar panels on some trucks in order to reduce idling while using warning lights during road and bridge maintenance operations, recycling of asphalt in-house to produce Hot Patch for repairing and paving operations, scheduling of multiple maintenance operations within one work zone to reduce equipment and trucks required, procurement of trucks which are Bio-Diesel compatible to be able to utilize fuel produced from soybeans and other similar products, upgrading and replacement of heating and air conditioning systems in County buildings, conducting energy audits on facilities along with many other measures.

“These measures not only reduce our energy use and cost but also lowers the County’s carbon footprint,” said Commissioner Director Arnone. “We will continue to look to find creative ways to offset the surging cost of fuel but we still need our federal and state policymakers to address this problem immediately.”

The Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners acknowledges that the causes of surging energy prices are complex and multi-faceted, but that many industry experts agree that misplaced federal and state energy policies hinder domestic energy production are at least, in part to blame.

“Now, more than ever, we need sound energy policies that encourage domestic energy production and reestablish our energy independence, stability and security,” said Commissioner Director Arnone. “Again, we need action and we need it now.”

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