Trenton, NJ – The Senate Environment and Energy Committee has taken a decisive step toward environmental justice and energy affordability for low-income and historically marginalized communities in New Jersey. Sponsored by Senator Troy Singleton, the legislation, S-1392, proposes the creation of the Office of Clean Energy Equity within the Board of Public Utilities (BPU).
This new office is tasked with ensuring an equitable transition to clean energy, focusing on communities that have historically borne the brunt of environmental pollution and its resultant health impacts. It mandates the BPU to allocate a minimum of 10 percent of its annual clean energy budget—or at least $50 million annually, whichever is greater—to support the office’s objectives.
Senator Singleton emphasized the universal right to clean energy benefits, highlighting that the initiative aims to make affordable clean energy accessible across all New Jersey communities, regardless of their socioeconomic status. The move seeks not only to mitigate the environmental and health disparities faced by overburdened communities but also to open up new career opportunities in the clean energy sector.
Key provisions of the bill include ambitious targets for the BPU, such as the establishment of onsite solar or community solar programs to benefit at least 250,000 low-income households or 35 percent of the state’s low-income households by 2030. This effort aims to lower the energy cost burden to below six percent of household income for these groups. Additionally, the legislation sets a goal for the BPU to secure a minimum of 1,600 megawatt hours of energy storage dedicated to serving overburdened communities by the same year.
The advancement of the bill with a 4-1 vote marks a significant move towards rectifying long-standing environmental injustices and promoting clean energy accessibility. For further details on what constitutes an overburdened community and to see the list of designated areas, stakeholders are directed to the Department of Environmental Protection’s website.
This legislative effort underscores New Jersey’s commitment to ensuring that the transition to a cleaner, sustainable energy future is inclusive, offering tangible benefits to those who have been disproportionately affected by environmental hazards.