Recently, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (“NJEDA”) announced the launch of the new Brownfields Impact Fund, a new program offering loans and sub-grants to eligible applicants across New Jersey to promote remediation of contaminated sites.

After determining that a facility is subject to the Environmental Justice Law, N.J.S.A. 13:1D-157, et seq., a facility must comply with the provisions of the Environmental Justice Law before the Department of Environmental Protection ("DEP") will complete the review process for an application for a new permit for a facility; an application for the expansion of a facility; or a renewal application for a major source permit.

In 2020, Governor Murphy signed New Jersey’s landmark Environmental Justice Law, N.J.S.A. 13:1D-157, et seq., which requires the Department of Environmental Protection ("DEP") to consider whether certain facilities seeking specific types of permits will contribute to existing environmental and public health stressors in overburdened communities.

On November 16, 2021, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) announced a redesigned Community Energy Plan Grant Program, which significantly simplifies the application process and places a greater emphasis on equity and environmental justice.

On November 10, 2021, Governor Murphy signed Executive Order 274, which sets a new near-term target for the reduction of New Jersey’s greenhouse gas emissions to 50% below 2006 levels by the year 2030. Previously, pursuant to the Global Warming Response Act, N.J.S.A. 26:2C-37, New Jersey sought a statewide reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to 80% below 2006 levels by the year 2050.

On October 20, 2021, Governor Murphy announced a proposal to inject the Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Green Acres Program with over $100 million.