As part of the state’s effort to meet New Jersey’s clean energy goals, Governor Phil Murphy announced the New Jersey Partnership to Plug-In earlier this year. It is New Jersey’s first statewide partnership and among the most comprehensive state plans in the country aimed at promoting the necessary infrastructure to support electric vehicle (EV) ownership.
The partnership–which will be co-led by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority–creates a strategic and streamlined framework to support New Jersey’s EV ecosystem.
Notably, the program has outlined the goal of registering 330,000 Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs) by 2025.
“The New Jersey Partnership to Plug-In ensures that we are working collaboratively across state agencies and with our private sector partners, to not only meet, but exceed our goal of registering 330,000 electric vehicles in New Jersey by 2025,” said Governor Murphy. “This new initiative is part of our broader effort to make renewable energy solutions work for everyone in New Jersey.”
Each agency will have its own direct set of tasks to deploy several critical aspects of electrification such as, mapping of existing and planned charging infrastructure assets; installing electric vehicle charging infrastructure throughout the state; working with lawmakers to establish an electric vehicle rebate program to incentivize adoption of electric vehicles among New Jersey residents; and creating an attractive corporate environment for ZEV-related primary and secondary companies. Existing initiatives will be enhanced by the partnership’s work. The Department of Environmental Protection recently launched an electric vehicle charging station map and the Board of Public Utilities plans to share a draft of the state’s Energy Master Plan (EMP) in June. The draft EMP will outline ongoing and potential new initiative across state government to achieve 100 percent clean energy by 2050.
Other agencies, including the Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Commission, and Department of Community Affairs, will contribute to aspects of this partnership, including installing signage, tracking vehicle registrations, and actively partnering with municipalities to apply local planning solutions.
“With the transportation sector contributing more than 40 percent of New Jersey’s greenhouse gas emissions, it is critical that we electrify this industry as part of Governor Murphy’s commitment to 100 percent clean energy by 2050,” said New Jersey Board of Public Utilities President Joseph L. Fiordaliso. “The MOU is a significant step in that direction and the NJBPU is eager to partner with our sister agencies in supporting the growth of Zero Emission Vehicles. In particular, the strategies laid out by the MOU will help inform the Board’s review of the EV filings pending before us.”
“Today’s partnership accelerates New Jersey’s efforts to increase the pace of electric vehicle use,” said New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe. “Emissions from vehicles contribute more than 40 percent of greenhouse gasses generated in New Jersey. Working together, we can meet the Governor’s ambitious goals of increasing electric vehicle registrations and reaching 100 percent clean energy by 2050, benefitting New Jerseyans for decades to come.”
“Under Governor Murphy’s leadership, New Jersey is becoming a leader in the clean energy economy, and this partnership will ensure that electric vehicles are a critical component of the state’s strategy,” said New Jersey Economic Development Authority Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “As we work to strengthen New Jersey’s communities, we believe that electric vehicle infrastructure will be a competitive advantage for new development projects.”
Additionally, demonstrating its commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving urban air quality in environmental justice communities, the Department of Environmental Protection today announced its request for approval from the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trustee to disburse an additional $16 million for the deployment of electric heavy-duty garbage trucks, school buses, and port-related vehicles. This is the DEP’s second round of requests for funding from the state’s $72.2 million share of federal settlements to resolve claims that Volkswagen installed emissions defeat devices in its vehicles to emit air pollutants without being detected by emissions-testing programs across the nation. The New Jersey Partnership to Plug-In will also dedicate $7 million of Volkswagen settlement funds for fast-charging infrastructure technology.
Working with private industry to grow this investment, the partnership has already begun to engage the electric vehicle community to combine these funds with private resources to create a multiplier to the state’s investment, while serving consumers of fast-charging technology. The Partnership will address possible barriers to entering the EV market that exist in the early stages that may make it difficult for the private sector to deploy capital and ensure charging stations are profitable.
“Today’s news is a breath of fresh air for thousands of New Jersey children and seniors who struggle to breathe our polluted air,” said ChargEVC CEO Pamela Frank. “We thank the Murphy Administration for taking bold action to electrify our transportation sector. It will require cooperation and coordination across state agencies and private stakeholders and we applaud the Governor’s efforts to start us down this road.”