Energy

S 685 creates a 15-member "Fleet Conversion Task Force" within New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection to study the transition of commercial vehicle fleets (like delivery trucks and company vehicles) to zero-emission models. The task force will examine challenges such as costs for small businesses, coordinate with stakeholders including fleet operators, manufacturers, and environmental groups, and develop policy recommendations to support this shift. It directly affects commercial fleet owners, operators, and related industries by seeking solutions to reduce transportation emissions, which account for 38% of New Jersey's total greenhouse gases. The task force must hold public hearings, gather input from diverse sectors, and submit findings to the state within a set timeframe.

S 684 establishes a three-year pilot program in New Jersey allowing gas public utilities to replace aging natural gas pipelines with geothermal energy infrastructure (like underground heating/cooling systems) and recover the project costs through customer utility rates. Gas utilities must submit detailed infrastructure plans to the Board of Public Utilities for approval, which will evaluate project costs, benefits like reduced emissions, and impacts on ratepayers. The program requires annual reports to the Governor and Legislature, with a final assessment on whether to make it permanent. This directly affects gas utilities operating in New Jersey, aiming to transition infrastructure toward renewable geothermal energy.

New Jersey's S 679 requires large companies (with over $1 billion in annual revenue operating in the state) to annually report all greenhouse gas emissions - including direct operations (scope 1), purchased energy (scope 2), and supply chain activities (scope 3) - to a designated emissions reporting organization. Companies must provide this data with independent third-party verification and make it publicly accessible. The law aims to increase transparency for investors and residents about corporate climate impacts, as mandated by the bill's findings on climate risks. It takes effect three years after enactment, applying to businesses already operating in New Jersey.