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ASBURY PARK, N.J. – New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG), the principal subsidiary of New Jersey Resources (NYSE: NJR), and Interfaith Neighbors Inc. dedicated a new home today in Asbury Park for the family of a local minister who is devoted to the community. Built on a formerly abandoned property, the new house for Germain and Marie Carmen Mesidort and their two daughters offers the added advantage of using solar power through the New Jersey Clean Energy Program.

“Asbury Park is being transformed through the commitment of individuals and families like the Mesidorts,” said Laurence M. Downes, chairman and CEO of NJNG. “We have longstanding ties to the community, and we’re proud to be a part of this family’s new beginning. Their home demonstrates not only the power of the sun, but the power to make their dreams a reality.”

The Mesidorts’ ties to Asbury Park began when Germain moved to this community from Haiti in 1993 to continue his ministry with the French Church of God of Prophecy. In 1997, his wife and two daughters joined him from Haiti. A senior pastor in his church, Germain is a supervisor for United Cleaning Service and works for Tri-Maintenance Inc., where Marie Carmen also works. Both daughters currently attend high school.

For many years, the Mesidorts lived in a 1½-bedroom apartment until Interfaith Neighbors helped them find a larger apartment before the opportunity arose to own their own home. Their new house offers savings on their electric bill with the use of photovoltaic (PV) technology that turns sunlight into electricity for their cooling system, lights and other electrical appliances. The home also features a high-efficiency natural gas furnace.

“New Jersey is a leader in our ambitious goals for the development and use of renewable energy technologies through the New Jersey Clean Energy Program,” said Jeanne M. Fox, president of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU). “The role of NJNG and others in building a market for these technologies is a critical step to achieve the benefits they can offer in job creation, preserving our environment, protecting public health and supporting our power delivery system.”

At peak daylight hours, the PV cells on the Mesidort home can generate up to 2 kilowatts (kW) of power. In addition, surplus power generated by the system can be sent back to the electric utility for credit on future electric bills. Over the course of a year, the system will produce approximately 2,400 kW hours of electricity, resulting in up to a 25 percent savings on the home’s total electricity bill.

A grant from the New Jersey Clean Energy Program covered 70 percent of the cost of the house’s PV system. The New Jersey Clean Energy Program provides financial and other incentives to the state’s residential customers, businesses and schools that install high-efficiency or renewable energy technologies. Authorized and overseen by the BPU, the program helps customers lower energy costs and generate electricity using clean, renewable sources of energy. More information is available at www.njcleanenergy.com.

“NJNG has consistently demonstrated their commitment to improving the communities they serve,” said Ratepayer Advocate Seema M. Singh. “With the installation of PV technology, the Mesidorts’ new home reflects the future direction of energy production and efficiency in our state and in our nation.”

The dedication of this home marks the successful completion of the 12th house in the home ownership program. It is the sixth home for the program in Asbury Park.

“The support of organizations like NJNG and Interfaith Neighbors helps further our efforts to develop affordable housing in Asbury Park,” said Asbury Park Mayor Kevin Sanders. “Home ownership is vital to the restoration of our city.”

The home ownership program began nine years ago when NJNG donated $25,000 in seed money toward the renovation of a home in Asbury Park. NJNG has provided subsequent contributions, and Interfaith Neighbors has procured additional funds as the program’s administrator. The program aims to provide home ownership opportunities for working families who would otherwise be unable to afford a house.

New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG) is the principal subsidiary of New Jersey Resources (NYSE: NJR), a Fortune 1000 company and a member of the Forbes Platinum 400. NJNG is one of the fastest-growing local distribution companies in the United States, serving more than 450,000 customers in New Jersey’s Monmouth, Ocean, Middlesex and Morris counties. This service area’s demographics and quality of life contribute greatly to NJNG’s growth. NJNG’s progress is a tribute to the dedicated employees who have shared their expertise and focus on quality through more than 50 years of serving customers and the community to make the company a leader in the competitive energy marketplace. For more information, visit NJNG’s Web site at njliving.com.