Murphy Announces $100 Million in Clean Transportation Projects: This week, Governor Murphy announced the establishment of the Office of Climate Action and the Green Economy and the creation of the New Jersey Council on the Green Economy.
The investment of $100 million in clean, equitable transportation projects are designed to improve air quality and reduce the effects of climate chance while helping to achieve the state’s clean energy goals of being 100% clean energy by 2050. Leveraging proceeds from New Jersey’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and the Volkswagen Mitigation Trust Funds, this new funding will bring electrification programs, equitable mobility projects, and electric charging infrastructure to environmental justice communities across the state.
Governor Murphy also signed Executive Order No. 221, establishing the Office of Climate Action and the Green Economy. This office will focus on addressing climate change, ensuring New Jersey’s clean energy future and transitioning to a green economy while prioritizing equity and environmental justice. Jane Cohen, Senior Policy Advisor to the Governor on Environment and Energy will lead the Office as Executive Director.
The Office of Climate Action and the Green Economy will oversee the creation of the New Jersey Council on the Green Economy, an initiative announced in the Governor’s 2021 State of the State address to expand the green economy in line with the Administration’s clean energy and climate goals. Led by First Lady Tammy Murphy, who will serve as Honorary Chair, the Council will be co-chaired by the Commissioner of Labor, Commissioner of Environmental Protection, and the President of the Board of Public Utilities. Members of the Council will include representatives from other State departments, as well representatives from chambers of commerce, organized labor, industry, utilities, green business, environmental justice communities, academia, small business, workforce development and environmental advocacy programs.
“Climate change is the single greatest long-term threat currently facing humanity, and our state and economy are uniquely vulnerable to its devastating effects,” said Governor Murphy. “The investments we are announcing today signify our commitment to environmental justice and equity, while building a cleaner economy that works for all.”
New Jersey Hits 1.5 million Vaccination Milestone: This week, Governor Phil Murphy announced that the state has administered more than 1.5 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine since December, with over 400,000 people having received their second doses. Eventually, New Jersey plans to immunize 70% of its eligible adults, roughly 4.7 million people, by this summer.
Murphy Announces Brownfields Remediation Programs: Last week, Governor Murphy highlighted two programs that are designed to support the transformation of contaminated Brownfields into community assets.
The Brownfield Redevelopment Incentive will provide tax credits to support Brownfields remediation projects. The Brownfields Loan Program will make low-interest loans of up to $5 million to Brownfield redevelopment projects for all aspects of revitalization including assessment, investigation and demolition.
The Brownfield Redevelopment Incentive is a one-time tax credit that is available to qualified developers in the year they complete a remediation project. The tax credit will support costs associated with assessment, investigation, and remediation activities, as well as hazardous materials abatement, waste disposal, and structural remediation. The program is subject to a $50 million annual cap with a maximum $4 million tax credit per project. Tax credits will be awarded through a competitive application process. The NJEDA will release more details on the program specifics and application later this year.
The Brownfields Loan Program offers low-interest financing of $100,000 to $5 million for all aspects of Brownfields revitalization projects, including assessment, investigation, and demolition. Loans will be awarded through a competitive application process, with projects receiving scores based on various details about the Brownfield site and the proposed redevelopment project. Projects that provide beneficial end uses that promote environmental resiliency, public health, and community well-being will receive higher scores and may also qualify for interest rate reductions if approved for financing.
Applications for the Brownfields Loan Program are now open. More information about the program and details on the application are available at https://www.njeda.com/bfloans
In Memoriam: Edwina Davis, Governor’s Office: RCSG joins our friends in the state government and throughout the Trenton community by mourning the loss of Edwina Davis. Over the past 30 years, if you had a meeting with the Governor or Chief Counsel, you likely had the pleasure of meeting Edwina.
Edwina greeted visitors to the Governor’s Office with a hearty welcome if she knew you, or total professionalism if it was your first encounter. She would often offer guests a treat from her candy dish, a prideful boast about her beloved Eagles or maybe just a comment on the issue of the day from a woman who has seen it all in her almost 3 decades of service to the State. Edwina was part of the fabric of the State House and represented the best of our State government. The River Crossing Strategy Group family offers our deepest condolences to her family.
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