New Jersey was recently awarded $3 million to help cut climate pollution and transition to a clean economy. The funding comes from the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. established in the Inflation Reduction Act.
New Jersey is already working to mitigate the impacts of climate change and has already met its greenhouse gas reduction goal set in 2020 ahead of schedule. The state will use these funds to support its ongoing effort to achieve a low carbon economy and reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2050, including expanding clean energy infrastructure and building resilient communities across the state.
“The Inflation Reduction Act was a historic investment in our efforts to tackle the worsening climate crisis, and I’m glad New Jersey opted in to receive critical new funding to develop and expand comprehensive greenhouse gas reduction plans,” Pallone (D-6th Dist.) said. “As chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee last Congress, I fought hard for the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants so that states like New Jersey can continue to make progress toward their climate goals and transition to a clean economy. I’m pleased to see that progress take shape today and will keep working to ensure communities across New Jersey have the necessary resources to fight the climate crisis.”
The CPRG planning grants will support the creation of comprehensive, innovative strategies for reducing pollution and ensuring that investments maximize benefits, especially for low-income and disadvantaged communities. These climate plans will include:
- Greenhouse gas emissions inventories;
- Emissions projections and reduction targets;
- Economic, health, and social benefits, including to low-income and disadvantaged communities;
- Plans to leverage other sources of federal funding, including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act;
- Workforce needs to support decarbonization and a clean energy economy; and
- Future government staffing and budget needs.
“New Jersey thanks its congressional delegation and the (Environmental Protection Agency) for once again prioritizing and supporting innovative climate action,” Gov. Phil Murphy said. “Now, more than ever, it’s clear that we must confront the urgency of the worsening climate crisis by leveraging every resource and tool at our disposal. Made possible by President (Joe) Biden’s historic Inflation Reduction Act, these funds will provide support for updates to our foundational climate plans and allow us to further prioritize and implement our accelerated clean energy goals and ongoing efforts to build resilient communities across the state.”
“New Jersey is excited to advance its critical work of reducing and responding to climate change in partnership with our colleagues at USEPA whose support will bring more resources to our collective efforts,” Commissioner of Environmental Protection Shawn LaTourette said. “This historic program will enable us to accelerate New Jersey’s Global Warming Response Act initiatives, which are centered on planning and implementing measures that reduce emissions of climate pollutants, improve air quality and public health and better serve our communities.”
