Chris Myers to Adler: ‘Thank you, Senator. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.’

 MOUNT HOLLY, N.J. - Medford Mayor and Third District Congressional Candidate Chris Myers today took issue with a “new” energy plan offered today by Sen. John Adler of Camden County, who is also running for the Third Congressional seat.

“This appears to be very, very similar to measures introduced in Medford Township last year and to an Assembly bill introduced by Assemblyman Scott Rudder earlier this year,” said Myers. “Imitation is a fine form of flattery, but I think Sen. Adler may want to give credit where credit is due.”

By enacting Medford’s ordinance 2007-22 on September 25, 2007, Medford Township amended the Township Code to promote energy efficiency for home repairs and renovations by waiving fees associated with plan review and construction permits where a property owner seeks to renovate, convert, construct or replace existing home equipment with energy efficient products and material which utilize alternative energy sources including, solar energy, geothermal energy and hydrogen fuel cell technology.

A separate resolution was passed in Medford, also in September 2007, to encourage the State to provide incentives to introduce and enact legislation to prohibit added assessments for energy saving and energy producing property improvements for residential and commercial properties. Rudder’s bill was released by the Assembly Environmental Committee Jan. 28.

The legislation Adler introduced today would exempt any renewable energy system that has been certified by local regulators from local property taxes. The bill would allow property owners to exempt any improvements on their property designed to accommodate certified renewable energy systems as long as the system is in use.

“The good news is that after years in the N.J. Senate, Sen. Adler has decided to get active and come up with ideas, even if they are recycled ideas from Chris Myers,” Myers said.