The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) announced that the $5 million Urban Heat Island (UHI) Mitigation Grant program is officially open and accepting applications.
The program is designed to help New Jersey’s most vulnerable communities combat extreme heat and rising energy costs. It is accepting proposals until the final deadline of Dec. 15. Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early.
To provide applicants with additional support, Sustainable Jersey, of the Sustainability Institute of The College of New Jersey and the NJBPU are holding a series of informational Zoom drop-in sessions to assist municipalities, nonprofit organizations and community groups. The dates and times are listed below.
Urban heat islands occur in cities and densely developed areas where concrete, pavement and buildings retain heat and green spaces are limited, making these areas significantly hotter than nearby rural regions, especially during summer months.
Cities such as Newark, Trenton, Camden and Jersey City are among the Northeast’s most intense urban heat islands, often registering temperatures 5 degrees to 20 degrees hotter than surrounding areas. This not only increases energy bills and health risks but also places additional stress on power grids.
“Extreme heat doesn’t just threaten our health and safety; it drives energy costs up, hitting hardest in communities already facing intensified heat from the urban heat island effect,” said NJBPU President Christine Guhl-Sadovy.
“The NJBPU has a fundamental responsibility to ensure reliable, affordable energy for all New Jerseyans, which means tackling the contributory causes of energy demand through programs like the UHI Mitigation Grant.”
Representatives from Sustainable Jersey and the BPU will be available on Zoom to answer questions, review draft proposals and provide technical assistance during the sessions. No appointment is necessary.
Attendees are encouraged to bring project concepts, preliminary site information and questions about the application process.
The sessions are on:
Friday, November 21, 2025, 2:00–3:00 p.m. Meeting Registration -Zoom
Thursday, December 4, 2025, 2:00–3:00 p.m. Meeting Registration – Zoom
For Fiscal Year 2026, the UHI Mitigation Program, funded by the New Jersey Clean Energy Fund, provides grants in three categories:
- Comprehensive UHI Interventions: Up to $1 million each for two major neighborhood revitalization projects, including expanded tree canopy, green infrastructure, cool pavements, smart-misting systems and other cooling infrastructure.
- Cooling the Built Environment: Up to $500,000 each for four upgrades to public buildings and cooling centers, with features like cool roofs, green roofs, geothermal heat pumps and battery storage to create resilience hubs — especially vital for communities with a high percentage of renters.
- Urban Micro-climate Interventions: Up to $50,000 each for 20 community-led projects such as shaded bus stops, community gardens and water stations. All projects must be located on public land or in publicly accessible spaces.
