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TRENTON, N.J. - New Jersey Resources (NJR) today announced the formation of the Conserve to Preserve Foundation and presented its first grant of $300,000 to the state's Green Job Training Partnership Program.

The mission of the Conserve to Preserve Foundation is to provide support for qualified organizations and initiatives that enhance the quality of life in local communities by supporting environmentally friendly programs, advancing energy-efficiency opportunities and technologies, promoting green job growth and further encouraging effective environmental stewardship.

"We are proud to announce the creation of the Conserve to Preserve Foundation, and to support the state's Green Job Training Partnership Program with our first grant," Laurence M. Downes, chairman and CEO of NJR. "We believe programs like this will play an important role in advancing New Jersey's economic recovery, as well as its environmental goals, and ensuring it remains a great place to live and work."

The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development's Green Job Training Partnership Program will recruit, prepare and train qualified candidates to fill the growing market for green jobs in the state. Through existing partnerships between industry and educational institutions, participants will be afforded apprenticeship opportunities in the energy industry, which has been identified as high-growth industry by Governor Jon S. Corzine's Economic Growth Strategy.

"This is definitely a win-win initiative and I want to thank Larry Downes and New Jersey Resources for their leadership on the vital and important issue of greening the economy," said Governor Corzine. "Our firm belief is that a healthy economy and a healthy environment are inextricably linked. At a critical time in our history, this partnership will help our residents to develop highly marketable skills while meeting 21st century job demands in the energy and environmental sectors."

Twelve weeks of training includes classroom instruction, team building and workplace readiness as well as safety training and hands-on exposure to real-work occupational settings. Time in the classroom focuses on environmental global awareness so that trainees fully understand how their work can make a difference for the environment. Potential jobs resulting from the training and apprenticeship include: energy auditor, weatherization inspector, energy conservation representative or residential air sealing technician.

"Governor Corzine recognizes that new approaches to energy will create new pathways to economic prosperity for the Garden State," said Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner David J. Socolow. "Today's announcement highlights the importance of public-private partnerships that leverage investment in initiatives to identify emerging job opportunities, address the existing skill gaps of the workforce and prepare New Jersey's workforce to meet the demands for workers in the green economy."

In a recent filing with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU), NJR's primary subsidiary, New Jersey Natural Gas, proposed an energy-efficiency program that would create or sustain nearly 100 green jobs such as those that participants in the Green Job Training Program would be qualified for.

The Conserve to Preserve Foundation was established by NJR due to its belief that environmental stewardship, intelligent energy use and the protection of natural resources is a shared responsibility of the company, state and residents. Through Conserve to Preserve, the umbrella for NJR's commitment to environmental stewardship and a key element of its business strategy, the company has emphasized the importance of wise energy use to its customers and communities by providing a variety of free resources and information about available programs and rebates. Additionally, the company has committed to supporting the state's goals by reducing its carbon footprint 20 percent by 2020 and has implemented a variety of initiatives to help meet this goal, including purchasing 100 percent of its electricity through the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities' CleanPower Choice Program.

New Jersey Resources, a Fortune 1000 company, provides natural gas and clean energy services to customers in New Jersey and in states from the Gulf Coast to New England, and Canada. With over $3 billion in annual revenues, NJR safely and reliably delivers natural gas through more than 6,500 miles of main to nearly half a million customers; develops and manages a diverse portfolio of more than 740,000 dth/d of transportation capacity and nearly 27 Bcf of storage capacity; and provides appliance installation and service to approximately 150,000 homes and businesses. NJR has also made significant investments in the midstream asset sector through equity partnerships, including Steckman Ridge and Iroquois. Through Conserve to Preserve®, NJR is providing customers solutions to meet their energy needs in an environmentally responsible way. For more information about NJR, visit www.njliving.com.