Bill passes Senate Environment and Energy Committee in a unanimous, bipartisan vote – marking the bill’s second passage through the committee
Trenton, NJ – Today, in a unanimous, bipartisan vote, the New Jersey Senate Environment and Energy Committee advanced the Clean Energy Equity Act, S. 336. a popular bill that would allocate existing funds toward energy efficiency, renewable energy, and job training programs in overburdened communities. In addition to reducing energy burdens for 250,000 New Jersey families, the legislation would create clear paths to local, good-paying jobs and expand access to the clean energy workforce. The Act does not require any new funding, and applies existing funds to programs in overburdened environmental justice communities.
The Clean Energy Equity Act advanced through the same committee in fall of 2020, before subsequently passing in the full Senate. It was assigned to the Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee, where — despite significant public pressure — it remained stalled until the end of the legislative session.
“I’m encouraged that the Clean Energy Equity Act has cleared this hurdle so quickly,” said Elena Weissmann, Mid-Atlantic Regional Director at Vote Solar. “Thank you to the members of the Environment and Energy Committee for recognizing the need to center equity in our clean energy transition, and advancing S. 336. Now, it’s critical that both legislative chambers follow suit. New Jersey’s most underinvested communities have already waited too long for relief from disproportionately high energy bills and polluting fossil fuels. We can’t continue to make them wait.”
The bill is championed by the NJ Shines Coalition, a network of community-based, social justice, and environmental advocacy groups working toward a resilient and equitable clean energy future for New Jersey.
Members of the coalition commented:
“Households of color around our state, along with low and moderate income households, should be able to access solar energy, and all its benefits, with the same ease as higher income households,” said Reverend Ronald Tuff of GreenFaith. “S. 336 is a vital part of making renewable energy truly affordable for all.”
“For too long, the benefits of a clean energy transition have escaped the reach of low and moderate-income families. We are glad to support the Clean Energy Equity Act that centers equity and access with the aim of serving the clean energy needs of New Jersey’s most underserved families,” said Luis Nasvytis Torres, Senior Legislative Representative for Earthjustice. “Every New Jersey low and moderate-income family should have access to the benefits of a clean energy future and we call on the New Jersey legislature to support robust funding for critical clean energy equity programs like community solar, energy efficiency, and energy storage to unlock the benefits of clean energy for all New Jersey families.”
The state’s clean energy work should not just entail energy generation, it must also include equity in its core so that everyone in New Jersey can fairly access clean energy. The Clean Energy Equity Act is essential to make sure that low-income and overburdened communities can benefit from renewable energy, including utility savings and green jobs training,” said Anjuli Ramos-Busot, New Jersey Chapter Director, Sierra Club. “This bill is important because it will help reduce greenhouse gasses and co-pollution while saving people money and creating green jobs in communities that are disproportionately affected.”
“Thursday’s Senate vote puts New Jersey one step closer to ensuring that the benefits of solar and clean energy — including economic opportunity, energy cost savings, healthy and resilient communities — are prioritized for New Jersey’s overburdened communities,” said Tom Figel, Senior Director of Policy and Business Development at GRID Alternatives. “We urge the Assembly to follow suit and make New Jersey a leader in equitable clean energy through the passage of the Clean Energy Equity Act.”
“The impacts of climate change across the state are hurting our cities and our residents the hardest. The Clean Energy Fund collects funds from all ratepayers but the adoption in our cities of clean energy, including solar and energy storage, lags behind the rest of the state. This bill will focus funding in these communities to ensure we can reach our clean energy goals and reduce air pollution in the communities who suffer the public health impacts of polluted air,” said Doug O’Malley, Director of Environment New Jersey.
The state’s clean energy work should not just entail energy generation, it must also include equity in its core so that everyone in New Jersey can fairly access clean energy. The Clean Energy Equity Act is essential to make sure that low-income and overburdened communities can benefit from renewable energy, including utility savings and green jobs training,” said Anjuli Ramos-Busot, New Jersey Chapter Director, Sierra Club. “This bill is important because it will help reduce greenhouse gasses and co-pollution while saving people money and creating green jobs in communities that are disproportionately affected.”
“UU FaithAction NJ Environmental Justice Task Force strongly supports extending the benefits of clean energy to low-income households,” said Peggy Middaugh, Co-Chair of the Unitarian Universalist Faith Action Environmental Justice Task Force. “For far too long, incentives have gone primarily to middle- and upper-income households. It’s time for a change.”
“Thursday’s Senate vote puts New Jersey one step closer to ensuring that the benefits of solar and clean energy – including economic opportunity, energy cost savings, healthy and resilient communities – are prioritized for New Jersey’s overburdened communities,” said Tom Figel, Senior Director of Policy and Business Development, GRID Alternatives. “We urge the Assembly to follow suit and make New Jersey a leader in equitable clean energy through the passage of the Clean Energy Equity Act.”
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