New Jersey Energy Master Plan released

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has released a new Energy Master Plan for the Garden State, presenting strategies supportive of reaching 100 percent clean energy by 2050, along with an executive order requiring further climate change regulations.

On January 27, 2020, Governor Murphy released his Energy Master Plan. The Energy Master Plan defines 100 percent clean energy by 2050 as 100 percent carbon-neutral electricity generation and maximum electrification of the transportation and building sectors, which are the greatest carbon emission producing sectors in the state. It features seven key strategies, including reducing energy consumption and emissions from the transportation sector; accelerating deployment of renewable energy and distributed energy resources; maximizing energy efficiency and conservation, and reducing peak demand; reducing energy consumption and emissions from the building sector; decarbonizing and modernizing New Jersey's energy system; supporting community energy planning and action in underserved communities; and expanding the clean energy innovation economy.

Governor Murphy also signed Executive Order No. 100, directing the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to adopt regulations and take other actions to reduce emissions and adapt to climate change. Executive Order No. 100 directs the DEP to adopt, within two years, regulatory reforms to reduce emissions and adapt to climate change. Known as Protecting Against Climate Threats or PACT, the regulations include a new greenhouse gas monitoring and reporting program, new regulations under the Air Pollution Control Act establishing criteria to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and short-lived climate pollutants; and revised environmental land use regulations to incorporate climate change considerations into permitting decisions. Governor Murphy described the PACT rules as "the most sweeping set of climate regulations in the country."