Bill > S1392

This bill establishes an Office of Clean Energy Equity within the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to ensure that clean energy, energy efficiency, and energy storage programs and their benefits, such as cost savings and job opportunities, are equitably distributed in "overburdened communities," which are defined as areas with a high percentage of low-income households, minority residents, or residents with limited English proficiency. The BPU is directed to create programs by 2030 that will benefit at least 250,000 low-income households with clean energy, aiming to reduce their energy burden (the percentage of household income spent on energy) to below six percent, and to install 1,600 megawatt hours of energy storage in overburdened communities to enhance resilience, especially during natural disasters. The bill also mandates workforce development and job training programs for individuals from these communities, with grants to be issued by various state agencies, and requires new construction in overburdened communities to be "solar ready," meaning designed for easy installation of solar panels. Furthermore, it modifies the existing Community Solar Energy Pilot Program to ensure low- and moderate-income customers have access to solar energy projects and directs the BPU to study and address disparities in community solar benefits for residents of multi-family housing.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/S1392