Energy in New Jersey | MyRepTracker

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 724: Establishes limits for electric public utility rate increases for low- and middle-income households.

This bill, S 724, limits annual electricity rate increases for low- and middle-income residential households in New Jersey. It prohibits electric utilities from raising rates for these households by more than the annual inflation rate (based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index). Eligible households are defined as those with annual incomes at or below 200% of the federal poverty level (low-income) or 400% (middle-income). Utilities must report program participation and financial impact to the Board of Public Utilities annually, and non-compliance results in fines determined by the Board. The bill applies to all residential electricity customers meeting the income thresholds, not to commercial or other utility customers.

Topics ✓ Energy

Sub-Topics Utility Regulation

passed · New Jersey · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SR 18: Urges states in PJM Interconnection region to require data centers to obtain electricity from new zero- or low-emission sources of energy.

SR 18 is a non-binding Senate resolution urging states within the PJM Interconnection region (including New Jersey and 12 other states plus D.C.) to require data centers to source electricity from new zero- or low-emission energy sources. It does not create new regulations but calls on state governments to adopt policies addressing data centers' growing energy demands, which currently consume about 4% of U.S. electricity and are projected to reach 9% by 2030. The resolution cites concerns about grid strain, noting data centers use 10-50x more energy than typical offices and could double demand by 2030. It emphasizes clean energy sources like solar and wind as scalable solutions to support grid reliability and climate goals.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Electric Grid Solar Transmission

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 737: Exempts small-scale renewable energy projects from State land-use permit requirements, under certain conditions.

This bill (S 737) exempts small-scale renewable energy projects (under 20 megawatts) from all New Jersey state land-use permit requirements, such as wetlands, coastal, and flood zone regulations. Instead, project owners must seek approval only from their local government unit (e.g., township or municipality) and their utility company, provided the project meets state construction standards. If an applicant applies directly to a state agency, they forfeit the option to use local approval only. The bill applies to owners/operators of solar, wind, geothermal, or small-scale biomass projects seeking to build or expand facilities.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Renewable Energy Solar Coastal & Flood Protection Public Lands

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Mar 16, 2026

S 1815: Establishes solar energy grant program in BPU to provide grants to public schools for solar energy projects; appropriates $15 million.

This bill creates a $15 million solar energy grant program administered by New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to help public schools and eligible educational institutions install solar projects. It provides grants covering up to 50% of eligible project costs (including panels, installation, and permits) with no requirement for schools to contribute matching funds. Schools must report on energy savings and project use, and if a facility with a funded solar system is sold within 20 years, the new owner must reimburse the BPU a reduced percentage of the grant amount based on how long the original owner held the property. The program aims to lower schools' energy costs, boost system resiliency, and support the state's climate goals.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Solar

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 424: Establishes weatherization and energy efficiency pilot program to address open cockloft space between certain buildings; appropriates $30 million.

S 424 establishes a pilot program in Union City, Trenton, and Camden to address energy inefficiency and fire risks from unsealed spaces between residential buildings (open cockloft spaces). The program provides free weatherization measures - including fire-resistant barriers, insulation, and ventilation - for low- and moderate-income homeowners, while other property owners can pay for improvements through a 10-year property tax assessment. It appropriates $30 million and requires participating cities to inventory affected buildings and share data for evaluation.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Property Tax Energy Efficiency Property Taxes

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 689: Provides for certain energy storage projects to be considered "inherently beneficial use" under MLUL.

This bill amends New Jersey's Municipal Land Use Law to explicitly classify certain energy storage projects as "inherently beneficial use." It directly affects municipalities (which handle land use approvals) and developers building energy storage projects eligible for the state's Energy Storage Program. The key mechanism changes the definition of "inherently beneficial use" to include projects receiving incentives from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities' energy storage programs, streamlining their approval process. This means qualifying energy storage facilities would no longer face standard development hurdles like zoning variances, as they'd be treated similarly to schools or hospitals under local land use rules. The change applies to projects under the Garden State Energy Storage Program or successor programs.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Energy Storage

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

SR 17: Urges lending institutions in State to stop financing projects that contribute to climate change.

This non-binding Senate Resolution (SR 17) urges New Jersey's lending institutions to stop financing projects that contribute to climate change, such as fossil fuel exploration and extraction. It cites that major global banks provided $3.8 trillion to oil, gas, and coal companies between 2016-2020, while noting negative impacts like health issues for the Mapuche people in Argentina and forced relocations in Mozambique linked to such projects. The resolution references NatWest's example of pledging $133 billion for sustainable energy by 2025 and phasing out coal financing by 2030. It does not mandate action but calls on institutions to align with Paris Agreement goals and reduce fossil fuel funding.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics Coal Oil & Gas Climate Change

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 627: Codifies certain energy goals related to 2019 Energy Master Plan.

S 627 codifies New Jersey’s 2019 Energy Master Plan goals into law, setting binding targets for 2025-2035. It requires state agencies (like the Department of Treasury and NJ Transit) to adopt electric vehicle fleets (50% by 2025), mandates 35% renewable electricity by 2025 (rising to 50% by 2030), and sets offshore wind generation goals (3.5 GW by 2030, 7.5 GW by 2035). Commercial buildings over 25,000 square feet must track energy/water use annually using EPA tools, and state agencies must report to the Legislature on progress via annual DEP reports. These requirements directly affect state agencies, utilities, the Port Authority, and large commercial building owners.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Electric Vehicles Renewable Energy Wind Electric Vehicles Ports

in committee · New Jersey · Senate Jan 13, 2026

S 1613: Prohibits certain electric public utility rate increases and requires certain protections for ratepayers.

This bill (S 1613) prohibits New Jersey electric utilities from raising customer rates specifically to cover smart meter installation costs. It requires utilities to publicly disclose rate increase details (amount, date, reasons, and expected bill impact) 30 days before and after any increase, with fines up to $10,000 for noncompliance. For rate hikes causing a 5%+ average bill increase, utilities must report to the federal Department of Energy 60 days in advance and provide annual reports on service interruptions and overdue bills. Additionally, utilities cannot disconnect service or charge late fees for six months following such a 5%+ rate increase. The bill directly affects all New Jersey electric utility customers.

Topics ✓ Energy

Sub-Topics Utility Regulation

passed · New Jersey · Senate Feb 24, 2026

S 685: Establishes "Fleet Conversion Task Force" in DEP.

S 685 creates a 15-member "Fleet Conversion Task Force" within New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection to study the transition of commercial vehicle fleets (like delivery trucks and company vehicles) to zero-emission models. The task force will examine challenges such as costs for small businesses, coordinate with stakeholders including fleet operators, manufacturers, and environmental groups, and develop policy recommendations to support this shift. It directly affects commercial fleet owners, operators, and related industries by seeking solutions to reduce transportation emissions, which account for 38% of New Jersey's total greenhouse gases. The task force must hold public hearings, gather input from diverse sectors, and submit findings to the state within a set timeframe.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Electric Vehicles Electric Vehicles

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