New Jersey launches new legislation providing incentives for PHEVs and charging infrastructure
Governor Phil Murphy signed comprehensive legislation that establishes goals and incentives for the increased use of plug-in electric vehicles and infrastructure in New Jersey. The bill also codifies the Murphy Administration’s goal of 330,000 registered light-duty electric vehicles by 2025 and directs state-owned light-duty vehicles to be electric by 2035.
The legislation directs the Department of Environmental Protection and Board of Public Utilities to establish goals for the electrification of medium and heavy-duty vehicles. Additionally, NJ TRANSIT will move toward zero emission bus purchases by 2032. The legislation supports Governor Murphy’s goal of putting New Jersey on a path to a 100 percent clean energy by 2050.
“Increasing the use of electric vehicles is a critical step to secure New Jersey’s clean energy future,” said Governor Murphy. “By establishing aggressive goals and strong incentives for electric vehicles, we are repositioning our economy and state for a clean future. Today, I am proudly signing bipartisan legislation that will transform New Jersey’s transportation sector and modernise our infrastructure to support our goal of reaching 100 percent clean energy by 2050.”
The bill also directs that by December 31, 2020, and every five years thereafter, the Department of Environmental Protection is required to prepare and submit to the Governor and the Legislature a report that assesses the state of the plug-in electric vehicle market in New Jersey; measure the state’s progress toward achieving the goals outlined in the bill; identify barriers to the achievement of the goals; and make recommendations for legislative or regulatory action to address those barriers.
The legislation creates a “Light Duty Plug-in Electric Vehicle Rebate Program” to encourage the purchase of light-duty plug-in electric vehicles over a ten-year period. The rebates will provide up to $5,000 per vehicle and will be funded by approximately $30 million from the Clean Energy Fund each year. The bill authorises the use of Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative funds as well.
Additionally, the bill grants the Board of Public Utilities the authority to also establish an incentive programme for the purchase and installation of in-home electric vehicle charging equipment up to $500 per person. The bill authorises BPU to deposit monies from the Clean Energy Fund into the newly established Plug-In Electric Vehicle Fund for these incentives in addition to the $30 million for the vehicle rebates.
“Today’s bill will put more electric vehicles on the road and keep them running throughout the Garden State,” said New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe. “This is more than just a win for electric vehicle owners, it is a big leap forward in reducing emissions in New Jersey, giving us cleaner air and helping to reduce the damaging effects of climate change. We thank the Governor and New Jersey’s legislature for taking this bold step, leading the nation toward a greener future.”
