Northeast

New Jersey

New Jersey is more densely populated with both people and roads than any other state in the country, contributing to the transportation sector’s majority share of emissions in the state. New Jersey imports nearly 20% of its power from neighboring states and the vast majority of in-state generation comes from natural gas and nuclear energy. Greenhouse gas emissions in the state have dropped by 25% from 2006-2021.
GHG Reduction Targets
All targets relative to 2006 levels
2030
50%
2050
80%
Governor
Phil Murphy (Democrat)
House Party
Democratic Majority
Senate Party
Democratic Majority
Legislative session
1/9/24 - 12/31/24
US Climate Alliance Status
Member

33

Policies Enacted or In Progress
across 6 policy areas

29

Policy Opportunities
across 7 policy areas

Northeast

9 states
This map shows the occurrence of climate policies passed at the state-level. Higher numbers represent more climate policies enacted.

Progress by Policy Area

  • Enacted
  • In-progress
  • Partially Enacted
  • Not Enacted
Glossary of Terms
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
partially-enacted
partially-enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
in-progress
not-enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
partially-enacted
enacted
enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Projections in New Jersey

Created in partnership with
Filters
Status Policy Policy Area Policy Category YR Enacted
Enacted
Empty column

80x50 Report

Climate Governance and Equity
Climate Governance 2020
Not Enacted
Empty column

Climate advisory bodies often write or advise on a state's climate plan, and make non-binding recommendations on climate policy design and implementation. The bodies can consist of all non-government members, or be a mix of government and non-government members.

Climate Governance and Equity
Climate Governance
Enacted
Empty column

Governor's Office of Climate Action and the Green Economy

Climate Governance and Equity
Climate Governance 2021
Enacted
Empty column

50% by 2030 | 80% by 2050

Relative to 2006 levels

Climate Governance and Equity
Climate Governance 2021
Enacted
Empty column

The 1990-2021 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory was published in March 2024.

Climate Governance and Equity
Climate Governance 2024
Enacted
Empty column

Requires that, when proposing to locate certain pollution-generating facilities in an overburdened community, an applicant must prepare an EJ impact statement and engage directly with members of their proposed host community by hosting a public hearing; permit applicants must avoid and minimize such stressors, including through the use of added pollution control technology.

Climate Governance and Equity
Environmental Justice and Equity 2020
Enacted
Empty column

Environmental Justice Advisory Council

Climate Governance and Equity
Environmental Justice and Equity
Enacted
Empty column

NJDEP – Office of Environmental Justice

Environmental Justice Interagency Council (EJIC)

Climate Governance and Equity
Environmental Justice and Equity
Enacted
Empty column

"Overburdened communities" are census block groups where at least 35% of households are low-income, 40% have limited English proficiency, or 40% of residents are minorities or members of a State recognized tribal community.

Establishing Policies
Climate Governance and Equity
Environmental Justice and Equity 2020
Not Enacted
Empty column

Environmental justice (EJ) community investment requirements help ensure communities most impacted by environmental burdens are benefitting equitably from public programs by requiring a certain percentage of funds and/or benefits from other policies are allocated to EJ communities.

Climate Governance and Equity
Environmental Justice and Equity
Enacted
Empty column

Environmental Justice Mapping, Assessment and Protection Tool (EJMAP)

NJ Overburdened Communities

Climate Governance and Equity
Environmental Justice and Equity 2022
Not Enacted
Empty column

Just transition advisory bodies write or advise on a state's just transition plan or report, and make recommendations on ways to support affected workers, communities, and industries. The bodies can consist of all non-government members, or be a mix of government and non-government members.

Climate Governance and Equity
Just Transition
Not Enacted
Empty column

Just transition funds support initiatives and investments aimed at facilitating the equitable transition of workers and communities affected by shifts in industries or policies that transition from fossil fuels.

Climate Governance and Equity
Just Transition
Not Enacted
Empty column

Just transition offices and staff assist workers and communities transitioning away from fossil fuel extraction and use, typically through retraining programs and support with relocation and economic diversification. Offices and staff also coordinate with other state agencies to effectively design policy to achieve a just transition.

Climate Governance and Equity
Just Transition
Not Enacted
Empty column

Just transition plans are documents that outline policies and recommendations aimed at supporting communities, workers, and industries affected by the transition away from fossil fuels. The plans often focus on workforce development and retraining, job creation, and economic diversification.

Climate Governance and Equity
Just Transition
Not Enacted
Empty column

Green banks are public, quasi-public, or non-profit entities that use innovative financing to invest in climate solutions and attract private capital across various economic sectors.

Cross-Sector
Climate Finance
Enacted
Empty column

The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) covers the electricity sector.

Cross-Sector
Carbon Valuation 2020
Not Enacted
Empty column

The social cost of carbon is a monetary estimate of the damage of each ton of greenhouse gases emitted. The social cost of carbon is used to quantify and monetize climate damages, representing the net economic cost of climate pollution to society.

Cross-Sector
Carbon Valuation
Enacted
Empty column

50% renewable energy by 2030 | 100% clean electricity by 2035

Electricity
Energy Plans and Targets 2023
Enacted
Empty column

2019 New Jersey Energy Master Plan: Pathway to 2050

Electricity
Energy Plans and Targets 2020
Not Enacted
Empty column

Electricity greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets are set by a state to limit GHG emissions in the electricity sector. These targets aim to reduce emissions by different amounts over time, often expressed as percentage relative to a baseline year.

Electricity
Energy Plans and Targets
Enacted
Empty column

New Jersey has an active community choice aggregation program.

Establishing Policies
Electricity
Clean Energy Generation 2003
Enacted
Empty column

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.

Policy Components
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
5/5
Electricity
Clean Energy Generation
Partially Enacted
Empty column

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.

Policy Components
enacted
enacted
enacted
not-enacted
enacted
not-enacted
enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
5/11
Electricity
Clean Energy Generation
Partially Enacted
Empty column

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.

Policy Components
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
not-enacted
enacted
5/6
Electricity
Clean Energy Generation
Enacted
Empty column

600 megawatts (MW) of energy storage by 2021 and 2,000 MW by 2030

Establishing Policies
Electricity
Transmission, Distribution, and Energy Storage 2018
Enacted
Empty column

New Jersey received a D grade from Freeing the Grid.

Electricity
Transmission, Distribution, and Energy Storage 2023
Not Enacted
Empty column

Coal phaseouts establish a target year by which states must end coal-fired power generation.

Electricity
Coal Retirement
Not Enacted
Empty column

Coal securitization is a financing tool that allows utility companies to refinance debt they issued to build coal plants and close the facilities early without taking a financial hit or passing costs on to ratepayers.

Electricity
Coal Retirement
Enacted
Empty column

The statewide energy code for commercial building construction is ASHRAE 90.1-2019.

Buildings and Efficiency
Building Codes 2022
Enacted
Empty column

The statewide energy code for residential construction is 2021 IECC.

Buildings and Efficiency
Building Codes 2022
Not Enacted
Empty column

Stretch building energy codes are an optional, more stringent building code established by the state that local jurisdictions can adopt to require that newly constructed buildings are more efficient than the baseline state codes.

Buildings and Efficiency
Building Codes
Enacted
Empty column

The Appliance and Equipment Efficiency Standards apply to 20 products.

Buildings and Efficiency
Building Standards 2022
Not Enacted
Empty column

Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions.

Buildings and Efficiency
Building Standards
Not Enacted
Empty column

Clean heat standards establish a performance standard requiring heat providers to deliver a gradually-increasing percentage of low-emission heating services to customers.

Buildings and Efficiency
Building Standards
Enacted
Empty column

Electric utilities are required to achieve energy savings equivalent to 1.31% in 2024, 1.66% in 2025, 2% in 2026, and 2% in 2027.

Gas utilities are required to achieve energy savings equivalent to 0.61% in 2024, 0.68% in 2025, 0.75% in 2026, and 0.75% in 2027.

Buildings and Efficiency
Building Efficiency 2023
In-Progress
Empty column

New Jersey has enacted commercial PACE-enabling legislation and is developing programs.

Establishing Policies
Buildings and Efficiency
Building Efficiency 2021
Enacted
Empty column

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.

Policy Components
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
4/4
Buildings and Efficiency
Building Efficiency
Not Enacted
Empty column

All-electric buildings policies require new buildings to be constructed with all-electric heating, cooling, and cooking systems to transition away from fossil-fuel use in buildings.

Buildings and Efficiency
Building Electrification
Enacted
Empty column

The Charge Up New Jersey program offers rebates up to $4,000 for new battery EVs.

Establishing Policies
Transportation
Light-Duty Vehicles
Enacted
Empty column

New Jersey LEV Program

Transportation
Light-Duty Vehicles 2023
Enacted
Empty column

Model Year (MY) 2027: 43% of new passenger vehicle sales are ZEVs | MY 2030: 68% of new sales are ZEVs | MY 2035: 100% of new sales are ZEVs, with up to 20% being hybrid or hydrogen-powered vehicles.

Transportation
Light-Duty Vehicles 2023
Not Enacted
Empty column

Low NOx Omnibus Rules establish stringent tailpipe emission standards for heavy duty vehicles, updated testing procedures, and technology-neutral compliance mechanisms to reduce nitrous oxide (NOx) pollution. The regulation must be adopted first by California, and other states may adopt the regulation under the federal Clean Air Act.

Transportation
Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles
Enacted
Empty column

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 Class 7-8 tractor sales are zero-emissions.

Transportation
Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles 2021
Not Enacted
Empty column

Medium- and heavy-duty (MHD) electric vehicle rebates consist of programs and policies that offer rebates to make MHD electric vehicles more affordable to increase their adoption in a state.

Transportation
Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles
Enacted
Empty column

10% of new bus purchases by NJ Transit are zero-emission by 2024 | 50% by 2026 | 100% by 2032

Establishing Policies
Transportation
Lead by Example 2020
Enacted
Empty column

25% of state-owned non-emergency light duty vehicles are plug-in EVs by 2025 | 100% are plug-in EVs by 2035

Establishing Policies
Transportation
Lead by Example 2020
Enacted
Empty column

Charge Up New Jersey offers rebates of $250 for the purchase and installation of an in-home Level 2 EV charger.

It Pay$ to Plug In provides grants for the purchase and maintenance of EV charging stations, up to $750 for Level 1 chargers and $4,000 for Level 2 chargers.

Transportation
EV Charging Infrastructure
Enacted
Empty column

Requires at least 15% of off-street parking spaces be EV charger-ready ("Make-Ready") in multi-family buildings with 5+ dwellings; within 3 years of the certificate of occupancy, one-third of Make-Ready spaces must have EV supply equipment (EVSE) installed, followed by another one-third within the next 3 years, after which the remaining one-third must have EVSE installed.

Establishing Policies
Transportation
EV Charging Infrastructure 2021
Enacted
Empty column

2019 Energy Master Plan Strategies and Goals

Transportation
Transportation Plans and Targets 2019
Not Enacted
Empty column

A low carbon fuel standard (LCFS) is a market-based mechanism to reduce the carbon intensity of transportation fuels and account for the fuel's life cycle greenhouse gas emissions.

Transportation
Transportation Plans and Targets
Not Enacted
Empty column

Transportation greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets are set by a state to limit emissions in the transportation sector. These targets aim to reduce emissions by specific amounts over time, often expressed as a percentage reduction from a baseline year.

Transportation
Transportation Plans and Targets
Partially Enacted
Empty column

New Jersey is ranked 16th out of 50 in the 2022 Bicycle Friendly State rankings by the League of American Bicyclists.

Policy Components
enacted
enacted
enacted
not-enacted
enacted
4/5
Transportation
Public and Active Transportation
Not Enacted
Empty column

Buy clean requirements mandate or incentivize the use of low-carbon construction materials, such as concrete and steel, in public projects to address embodied carbon.

Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
Industrial Decarbonization
Enacted
Empty column

The state prohibits the sale, lease, rent, or installation of certain equipment or products containing HFCs or other greenhouses gases in the state of New Jersey and requiring manufacturers to disclose HFCs and substitutes in their products.

Establishing Policies
Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
F-gas Regulations 2020
Not Enacted
Empty column

Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, bans, or other measures that reduce SF6 usage and emissions.

Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
F-gas Regulations
Not Enacted
Empty column

Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations.

Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
Oil and Gas Regulations
Not Enacted
Empty column

Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.

Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
Oil and Gas Regulations
Enacted
Empty column

Food waste ban – The state requires commercial waste generators to recycle organic materials at authorized food waste recycling facilities, provided they generate at least 52 tons of food waste per year and are within 25 miles of a permitted recycling facility.

Establishing Policies
Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
Waste Management 2020
Not Enacted
Empty column

Landfill methane regulations include rulemakings, emissions monitoring, emissions control, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from decaying organic waste in landfills.

Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
Waste Management
Not Enacted
Empty column

Agriculture financial incentives support healthy soils and regenerative agriculture. Incentives may include reduced crop insurance premiums, property tax exemptions, grants, or cost-share programs.

Natural and Working Lands
Agriculture
Not Enacted
Empty column

Agriculture technical assistance programs provide state-driven technical assistance, apprenticeship and mentorship programs, and support securing additional funding for farmers to increase uptake of soil health practices.

Natural and Working Lands
Agriculture

The State Climate Policy Dashboard tracks only passed policies and does not include bills currently proposed in legislative sessions. The website is intended to illustrate the current status of policies for each state, as well as key resources and model states for each policy.

Much of the information contained in this database is derived from the public domain, with links to resources provided. The information provided is made available solely for general information purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Click here for full Terms of Use.

Report an issue
See something we’re missing or a needed correction in our data?