This bill prohibits New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) from approving electric or gas utility rate increases that would cause an average residential customer's annual bill to rise more than 2%. It directly affects residential utility customers and the BPU, which must deny any proposed rate hike exceeding this 2% annual cap on the average customer bill. The key provision sets a strict limit on total annual rate increases, regardless of individual utility company proposals or cost factors. The law takes immediate effect upon enactment.
This bill requires New Jersey to amend its building code to ban burning high-emission fuels (like natural gas) in new construction. Starting 12 months after enactment, it prohibits such combustion in new buildings under seven stories; 36 months later, the ban applies to all new buildings regardless of height. Exemptions apply only to emergency systems, emergency facilities, and commercial food establishments, though these areas must still be designed to be "all-electric ready" where feasible. The bill also mandates a joint report on electric rate adjustments within 12 months and allows municipalities to impose stricter rules. (Pending before the Assembly Housing Committee as of 2026-01-13.)
This bill exempts the retail sale of specific energy-saving products and services from New Jersey's sales and use tax. It directly affects consumers and businesses purchasing items like LED light bulbs, insulation, window caulk, furnace filters, weather stripping, tankless water heaters, and HVAC tune-up services. The key provision defines "energy-saving products" as those primarily designed to reduce energy consumption in homes and buildings, explicitly listing qualifying items. This tax exemption aims to lower costs for buyers of these efficiency-focused products.
This bill prohibits New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) from approving rate increases for electric and gas utilities that use "inclining block rates" for residential customers. Inclining block rates charge higher prices once a household's energy use exceeds specific thresholds, regardless of when energy is consumed. The bill directly affects residential customers in New Jersey who currently face these tiered pricing structures, particularly during high-use seasons like summer. It requires the BPU to halt any rate hike approvals for utilities using this rate design, though it does not eliminate the rate structure itself. The sponsor cites a 2024 report stating such rates are outdated and not cost-reflective, aiming to reduce residential electricity costs.
This bill requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to study the feasibility of developing advanced reactors statewide within 18 months. The study must examine suitable locations (including retired power sites), regulatory requirements, economic viability, safety, environmental impacts, and public input through three stakeholder sessions. It directs the BPU to recommend a potential program for deploying small modular reactors and publish findings online. The study expires 30 days after the report is submitted to the Governor and Legislature.
Bill A 2851 prohibits electric utilities in New Jersey from including "solar subscription fees" in community solar subscribers' monthly bills. These fees, paid to companies managing community solar projects (called "subscriber organizations"), would be removed from utility bills under the bill's requirements. The law directs the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to mandate that utilities develop a method to eliminate these fees, which currently appear alongside energy credits on subscriber bills. The bill affects community solar participants and the organizations that manage their enrollment in solar projects.
This bill would establish a cap-and-invest program under New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from major polluters. It directly affects large facilities (like factories or power plants) that emit significant greenhouse gases, requiring them to purchase annual emissions allowances or use offset credits equal to their total emissions over a four-year compliance period. The program sets annual emission limits, creates a system for auctioning allowances, and allows entities to meet obligations through verified emission-reduction projects (offset credits). The DEP must report on implementation annually and develop specific compliance pathways for industries most impacted by the rules.
This New Jersey Assembly Resolution (AR 104) urges Congress and the President to increase federal funding for fusion energy research. It specifically calls for higher appropriations to the Department of Energy's Fusion Energy Sciences program to support the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) in New Jersey and the international ITER project in France. The resolution highlights fusion energy's potential as a sustainable, clean power source with no long-term radioactive waste, while noting PPPL's leadership and the economic benefits of public-private partnerships. As a non-binding resolution, it does not change funding levels but formally advocates for greater investment in this research area.
This bill (A3932) requires the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and South Jersey Transportation Authority to install at least one hydrogen refueling station at every service area along their toll roads within two years. It directly affects these transportation authorities (mandating the installations) and hydrogen fuel cell vehicle drivers (who gain refueling access). The bill specifies that authorities must recover installation and operational costs from users proportionally based on their station usage. It does not alter vehicle technology or emissions standards but ensures infrastructure support for hydrogen-powered vehicles on state toll routes.
This bill prohibits New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) from shutting down any existing electric power plant ("covered facility") unless the BPU first identifies one or more replacement plants that meet two conditions: (1) produce enough renewable energy (including wind, solar, hydro, or nuclear) to cover the original plant's electricity demand, and (2) can start operating before the original plant closes to avoid power shortages. It directly affects the BPU's authority over power plant retirements and electric generation facilities connected to New Jersey's grid. The bill does not apply to plants that are unsafe, non-functional, or threaten public health, allowing the BPU to retire those without replacement. This policy aims to prevent gaps in electricity supply during transitions to renewable energy.
