New Jersey Commission Aids Local Governments in Electrifying Their Fleets

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities has put forward a $210,000 program that will support local governments in transitioning their fleets to electric vehicles, according to a Nov. 26 press release.

The Clean Fleet EV Incentive program, which is funded primarily through a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, will incentivize the purchase of electric vehicles (EVs) or charging stations by allowing local governments to purchase EVs at the State Purchasing Contract price and simultaneously apply for grant funds.

Each applicant can apply for a maximum of two eligible EVs and one dual-port Level 2 EV charging station. Municipalities and counties with a high percentage of low- to moderate-income (LMI) residents are particularly encouraged to apply, according to the press release.

Governor Phil Murphy has pledged to achieve 330,000 EVs on the road in New Jersey by 2025, which will reduce emissions from the transportation sector and help reach the goals of the Global Warming Response Act. As the state’s Draft 2019 Energy Master Plan makes clear, the transportation sector accounts for 46% of the state’s net greenhouse gas emissions, making it the largest emissions source in the state. Encouraging EV adoption is crucial to reaching a clean energy future for New Jersey.

The application deadline for the program is April 15, 2020, or until all of the funding is awarded.