The New Jersey Clean Energy Program managed by South Jersey Gas and sponsored by the NJ Board of Public Utilities will refund $1 million to Rowan University for its cogeneration plant, an $11 million investment to create a combined heat and power project with the expected completion in September. Rowan is being rewarded because the cogeneration plant will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and dramatically improve efficiency.

Once online, the cogeneration plant will generate 80% of Rowan's electric. Created as a byproduct, steam will be extracted and utilized for heating, hot water and air conditioning. The plant's efficiency is expected to save Rowan $1.2 million per year.

In addition to clean energy and money savings, the cogeneration plant lends to Rowan's stability as the region's evacuation site in an emergency. Without an outside source, the cogeneration plant will generate enough electricity to sustain most of the campus with electric and heat or air conditioning. In addition, most of the electrical wires are underground making the plant more reliable in case of a natural disaster.

According to John Imperatore, P.E., director of facilities, resource management, "Through cogeneration, major energy efficiency, photovoltaic, smart growth and conservation projects across our campus, Rowan University is rapidly becoming a leader in demonstrating how economic growth and environmental protection can co-exist-a major challenge for the State of New Jersey. Rowan University is very serious about its mandate to enrich the lives of its students, community and region by setting examples of responsible environmental stewardship such as this."