Governor Murphy Announces Release of Building Decarbonization Roadmap
November 6, 2025, 2:54 pm | in
Governor Murphy Announces Release of Building Decarbonization Roadmap
Set of Recommendations for Cleaner Buildings Developed with Agency, Utility, and Stakeholder Collaboration
TRENTON – Governor Phil Murphy today announced the release of a strategic roadmap for building decarbonization, including recommendations for policy, legislative, and regulatory advancements, along with workforce development and funding strategies to create cleaner, greener buildings that benefit New Jersey families and workers.
The set of recommendations to meet the State’s goals for decarbonization are the culmination of a multi-year, whole-of-government approach among agency experts that included recommendations presented by the Clean Buildings Working Group to reduce the state’s second-largest source of pollution.
Governor Murphy signed Executive Order 316 in 2023, which directed the Governor’s Office of Climate Action and the Green Economy (OCAGE) to develop and release a strategic roadmap to building decarbonization to meet New Jersey’s ambitious goal of electrifying 400,000 residential and 20,000 commercial units by 2030.
“Over the past eight years, we have worked across government to grow New Jersey’s green economy and reduce emissions. This report is the culmination of partnerships across labor, industry, and communities throughout the State – each bringing unique insight and experience to drive the adoption of energy efficiency improvements and emissions reduction upgrades in New Jersey’s buildings,” said Governor Murphy. “Together, they have put forth a comprehensive strategy for lowering emissions as part of our all-of-the-above approach to climate action.”
“With this roadmap, we are releasing a whole-of-government approach to equitably addressing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution from the buildings sector,” said Eric Miller, Executive Director of OCAGE. “The recommendations in the strategic roadmap reflect national best practices and countless hours of work by key stakeholders and government experts to craft an actionable pathway to make progress on building decarbonization.”
The burning of fossil fuels in buildings accounts for approximately 25% of the State’s emissions. New Jersey has taken significant action to reduce emissions from this sector in order to fulfill Governor Murphy’s bold commitment to running the State on 100% clean energy.
The roadmap provides a comprehensive set of recommendations across five themes, with a focus on customer adoption, workforce development, health benefits, and equity:
Decarbonization Policies: New Jersey must accelerate electrification through innovative regulatory measures, enhanced financial incentives, and consumer education.
Utility Regulatory Evolution: Reforms in gas and electric utility regulations are necessary to align investments with decarbonization goals while ensuring affordability and reliability.
Equity and Environmental Justice: Policies and funding initiatives must prioritize underserved communities to ensure equitable access to clean energy benefits and protections.
Workforce Development: Expanding technical training and certification programs and job pathways is essential to preparing a diverse workforce for the growing demand for clean energy jobs.
Data Collection and Performance Tracking: Robust data collection and performance tracking mechanisms are crucial for informed decision-making and sustained progress toward climate goals.
New Jersey is taking a multi-pronged approach to meeting these goals, including installing zero-carbon end-use equipment in buildings; leveraging energy efficiency and demand response programming; continuing to deploy clean energy resources to power the grid; and advancing program design to ensure low-income and overburdened communities benefit from building decarbonization. The Murphy Administration also continues to prioritize policies focused on the affordability of electricity and energy bills.
