New Jersey
New Jersey has made significant progress on climate action, especially in recent years with environmental justice, clean energy, and clean transportation legislation.
Legislative Profile
Governor: Phil Murphy (D)
House: Democratic majority
Senate: Democratic majority
U.S. Climate Alliance Member
Key Resources
New Jersey State Energy Profile — U.S. EIA
New Jersey Climate Portal – Department of Environmental Protection
Helping New Jersey State Agencies and Departments Align Their Actions with GHG Reduction Mandates and EJ Principles — Sabin Center for Climate Change Law
Emissions Reduction Targets
By 2030:
50%
By 2050:
80%
All targets relative to 2006 levels
2019 GHG Emissions By Sector (%)
- Commercial
- Electric
- Residential
- Industrial
- Transportation
- Agriculture
Source: EPA State Inventory Tool (SIT)
Use the + icons in each policy area below to explore climate policy that has been passed at the state level, with links to relevant legislation and trackers. Policies in gray have not yet been passed in this state.
Climate Governance & Equity
Climate Governance
Greenhouse Gas Targets
Emissions Reduction Target
50% by 2030 | 80% by 2050 Relative to 2006 levels
Mandate Source
2030: Voluntary – EO 274 (2021)
2050: Mandatory – A3301 – Global Warming Response Act (2007)
Climate Action Plan
Climate Bureaucracy
Interagency Commissions/Task Forces
Governor’s Office of Climate Action and the Green Economy
Non-Governmental Advisory Bodies
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory
1990-2020 GHG Emissions Inventory (December 2022)
Mandate Source
Green Bank
Lead by Example
ACEEE Score – 1 out of 1 point**
Public Fleet ZEV Requirements
S 2252 (2020) – For state-owned non-emergency light duty vehicles: 25% are plug-in electric by 2025 | 100% are plug-in electric by 2035
For new bus purchases made by NJ Transit: 10% are zero-emission by 2024 | 50% will be zero-emission by 2026 | 100% are zero-emission by 2032
Equity
Environmental Justice Community Designation
Mandate Source
N.J.S.A. 13:1D-157 (2020)
Definition
“Overburdened communities” are defined as census block groups where at least 35% of households are low-income; at least 40% of residents are minority status or part of a State-recognized tribal community; or at least 40% of households have limited English proficiency.
Include race? Yes | Include income? Yes | Include pollution burden? No
State EJ Mapping Tools
EJ Community Benefit Requirement
EJ Bureaucracy
EJ Advisory Bodies
Environmental Justice Advisory Council
EJ Government Staff
NJDEP – Office of Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice Interagency Council (EJIC)
**The ACEEE Energy Efficiency Scorecard analyzes the policies and programs states adopt to save energy in public sector buildings and transportation fleets. States can earn up to 1 point.
Adaptation & Resilience
Electricity
Renewables and Energy Storage
Greenhouse Gas Targets
Renewable Portfolio Standard
Target
50% by 2030 | 100% clean electricity by 2035
Legislation
2030: AB 3723 (2018)
2035: Executive Order 315 (2023)
Distributed Generation/Solar Carve-out
SPOT Components – 5 out of 5*
Net Metering
SPOT Components – 5 out of 11*
Energy Storage Standard
SPOT Components – 5 out of 5*
Shared Renewables
SPOT Components – 5 out of 6*
*The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled.
Grid and Utility Reform
Clean Energy Plan
2019 New Jersey Energy Master Plan: Pathway to 2050 (2020)
Mandate Source
Executive Order No. 28 (2018)
Grid Modernization Plan
The GridWise Alliance’s Grid Modernization Index (GMI) evaluates and ranks the status of grid modernization efforts across all 50 states and D.C.
50-state Ranking – 11th
Interconnection Standards
SPOT Components – 5 out of 6*
Utility Green Power Option
SPOT Components – 2 out of 6*
New Utility Business Model Proceeding
SPOT Components – 5 out of 5*
Carbon Pollution Pricing
Buildings & Efficiency
Energy Codes and Standards
Residential Codes
SPOT Components – 6 out of 6*
Statewide code – 2021 IECC
Commercial Codes
SPOT Components – 6 out of 6*
Statewide code – ASHRAE 90.1 2019
Stretch or Reach Codes
*The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled.
Efficiency Programs and Financing
Weatherization Programs
SPOT Components – 4 out of 4*
Energy Auditing Programs
Retrocommissioning Programs
Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE)
SPOT Components – 5 out of 10*
Energy Savings Performance Contracting
SPOT Components – 5 out of 5*
Standards and Market Mechanisms
Energy Efficiency Resource Standard
SPOT Components – 5 out of 5*
Building Performance Standard (BPS)
Appliance Performance Standard (APS)
AB 5160 (2022) – Sets minimum efficiency requirements for 17 products
Carbon Pollution Pricing
Buildings Data Disclosure
Transportation
Vehicle Standards and Incentives
Low-Emission Vehicle (LEV) Standards
Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandates
EV Targets and Sales Requirements
Advanced Clean Cars II (2023) – By 2035: 100% of new passenger and light-duty vehicles sold in the state are electric vehicles
Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicle (MHDVs) Sales Standards
EV Sales Requirements
By 2035: 55% of Class 2b – 3 truck sales are zero emissions | 75% of Class 4 – 8 straight truck sales are zero emissions | 40% of truck tractor sales are zero-emissions.
Electric Vehicle Incentives
SPOT Components – 3 out of 5*
Charging Infrastructure Incentives
SPOT Components – 1 out of 5*
Carbon Pollution Pricing
Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS)
State Planning and Investment
Greenhouse Gas Targets
Decarbonization Plan
EV and EV Charging Infrastructure Plans
EV Transit Bus Deployment
The ACEEE Transportation Electrification Scorecard analyzes the level of investment and policies states adopt to procure electric transit buses. States can earn up to 6 points.
ACEEE Score – 5 out of 6 points
Bicycle Friendly State
The League of American Bicyclists’ State Report Cards evaluate and rank the safety and efficiency of active transportation systems across all 50 states.
50-state Ranking – 16th
*The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled.