NJ Clean Energy Equity Act Passes Senate Budget Committee, Moves to Full Senate

Trenton, NJ  — The New Jersey Senate passed the NJ Clean Energy Equity Act, S. 2484 out of the Budget and Appropriations Committee today by a vote of 7-5, advancing it to the full state Senate. The Bill aims to help low-income New Jersey families benefit from solar, storage and energy efficiency by reducing energy burden.

“As we head into what is reported to be a ‘dark winter,’ many low-income families in New Jersey will be making difficult financial choices. The need for energy justice has never been more clear. Advancing the Clean Energy Equity Act through the Budget Committee today is an important step toward enabling clean energy savings to help struggling New Jersey families, and toward investing in the health, wealth and safety of our communities,” said Pari Kasotia, Mid-Atlantic Director for Vote Solar.

Building energy resilience in low-income communities will help reduce the harm of future financial crises on our most vulnerable communities. While the moratorium on utility shut-offs is helpful, investing in solar and storage will provide sustainable savings to low-income households and environmental justice communities, as well as local jobs and economic investment. As New Jersey begins to consider how to rebuild better, the Clean Energy Equity Act will provide the direction and tools to create a stronger, more resilient, and sustainable post-COVID New Jersey.

The bill is the first step in implementing the New Jersey Equitable and Resilient Solar + Storage Policy Roadmap, which outlines how New Jersey can help 250,000 low-income families reduce their electric bills, and install 400 megawatts of storage by 2030 in low-income and environmental justice communities and equips residents of these communities with workforce training for meaningful employment in the clean energy sector. More information on the bill, roadmap and coalition supporting it is available at NJShines.org.