New Jersey moving forward on environmental policy and leading with goal of 100% clean electricity by 2035 

New Brunswick, NJ – This afternoon at Rutgers University, New Brunswick Campus, Governor Murphy announced a series of 6 environmental policy moves through executive orders and rulemaking processes. The Governor’s first announcement was an Executive order stating New Jersey’s accelerated goal to achieve 100 percent clean electricity by the year 2035. New Jersey’s previous goal committed to 100 percent clean electricity by 2050.

This executive order posits New Jersey as a national leader in clean energy with one of the most ambitious targets across the country. Governor Murphy’s administrative goal goes hand in hand with Senator Bob Smith’s bill S2978, The Clean Energy Act of 2023, which would codify the target in state legislation and kickstart the much needed accelerated transition for the state.

“This accelerated new goal of 100% clean electricity by 2035 bumps up the timeline for achieving a clean energy transition by 15 years and takes a significant and needed step to meet the urgency of the climate crisis,” said Anjuli Ramos-Busot, Director of NJ Sierra Club. “The New Jersey Sierra Club applauds Governor Murphy for his decision to meet the moment and for working to provide a healthier and more affordable future for NJ families. We now hope to see 100% clean energy by 2035 be codified in statute in the strongest possible way, and we look forward to working with the administration, the DEP and the BPU to make this a reality for New Jersyians.”

Governor Murphy also announced the adoption through an Executive Order of a target to install zero-carbon-emission space heating and cooling systems in 400,000 residential units and 20,000 commercial units and to make 10% of all low-to-moderate income (LMI) properties electrification-ready by 2030

“Electrification of our homes and buildings is an essential component of our transition to clean energy and our detachment from natural gas. Not only does the building sector contribute 23% of NJ’s 2020 carbon emissions, primarily because of space heating and cooling, but more and more evidence now shows that the usage of natural gas in our homes also makes us sick, especially our children,” said Anjuli Ramos-Busot, Director of NJ Sierra Club. “NJ families must have the option to decide whether or not to equip their homes with electric appliances, heating and cooling, particularly the LMI families that cannot afford the cost of making their homes electrification-ready.”

Through a third Executive Order, the Governor initiated a process in partnership with the state’s hometown utilities, key stakeholders including organized labor, and the NJ Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to plan for the Future of the Natural Gas Utility in New Jersey.

“A clean energy transition equipped with accessibility and equity at the forefront is absolutely essential in order to ensure that no one is left behind. Starting to plan for the future of natural gas, or more like the very limited future use of natural gas, is a big sign that we are nearing the end of our reliance on it,” said Anjuli Ramos-Busot, Director of NJ Sierra Club. “Thank you Governor Murphy for getting this step started. The New Jersey Sierra Club looks forward to working with the NJ BPU to ensure that the future of natural gas is just its past.”

Governor Murphy announced the allocation of $70 million in unobligated Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) auction proceeds toward lowering consumer upfront costs for medium- and heavy-duty EV adoption.

“The New Jersey Sierra Clubs applauds the allocation of RGGI funds to make the adoption of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles more accessible and for continuing to work on moving these dirty, primarily diesel, vehicles out of our roads,” said Anjuli Ramos-Busot, Director of NJ Sierra Club.

The Governor also announced the initiation of the stakeholdering process to adopt ACC II in New Jersey, which would require all new cars and light-duty truck sales to be zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) by 2035.

“It is essential for the adoption of ACC II to occur before the end of this year in order for NJ to not continue to enter into this incrementally goal-setting regulation behind many other States that would ultimately dictate the future EV market. The longer we wait to adopt this rule, the lesser our chances are at securing more EV options in the state, and the harder to achieve the goal of 100% of new sales by 2035,” said Anjuli Ramos-Busot, Director of NJ Sierra Club. “A stakeholder process is a necessary step, however this must be done quickly and efficiently to ensure ACC II is adopted by the end of 2023, and for NJ to join our neighboring states in this transition. Thank you governor Murphy for this commitment.”

Governor Murphy’s sixth announcement anticipates the proposal of the NJ PACT REAL rules in Summer 2023, which will provide enhanced flood protection for homeowners, businesses, and infrastructure against increased flooding in riverine and coastal areas.

“All New Jerseyans have witnessed the devastating impacts of inland and coastal flooding in our state, and the REAL rules are one of the most important mechanisms to ensure our public and property safety from these severe weather events threats,” said Anjuli Ramos-Busot, Director of NJ Sierra Club. “Thank you Governor Murphy for the commitment on proposing these rules by this Summer, we now need to see them adopted as quickly as possible because our lives depend on them.”

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About the Sierra Club: The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person’s right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information about our work in New Jersey, visit www.sierraclub.org/new-jersey.