Bill > S2979

Introduced Session

The bill would allow the owners of commercial farms to be eligible to apply for, and receive, any applicable incentives made available by the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) through the New Jersey Clean Energy Program (NJCEP). In addition, the bill would require the BPU, in consultation with the Department of Agriculture, to establish a program to encourage or assist the owners of commercial farms to conduct energy audits to identify the current energy use of buildings and equipment and identify energy conservation measures that can be implemented in order to realize and maximize energy savings and energy efficiency. The bill defines "energy audit" as an assessment of all energy-using systems to determine the consumption characteristics of a commercial farm which shall (1) identify the type, size, and rate of energy consumption of a commercial farm; (2) identify appropriate energy conservation maintenance and operating procedures; and (3) indicate the need, if any, for the acquisition and installation of energy conservation measures. The bill would also require the BPU to publish on its Internet website any incentives or programs that are available to the owners of commercial farms under the NJCEP and information concerning the program established by the BPU, pursuant to the bill, to encourage or assist the owners of commercial farms in conducting energy audits. Currently, commercial farms do not fit clearly into the incentive programs offered by the NJCEP, which is divided into categories for residential, commercial, industrial, local government, and multifamily. A farmhouse or residential dwelling on farmland would be eligible for incentives offered in the residential category of the NJCEP since the farmhouse or dwelling qualifies as a residence, however, there are no additional incentives or programs specifically available to the owners of commercial farms under the NJCEP. The bill would allow the owners of commercial farms to participate in the NJCEP and receive applicable incentives under the program while improving the energy efficiency of their farms.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Latham Tiver (R)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee (on 03/18/2024)

Official Document