This bill requires data center owners or operators in New Jersey to submit quarterly water and energy usage reports to the Board of Public Utilities (BPU). The reports must include specific metrics like total energy consumption, water sources, renewable energy usage, waste heat reuse, and efficiency indicators such as power usage effectiveness. Data centers operating for at least one year must submit their first report within three months of enactment, while newer centers have six months. The BPU would publish all submitted data online within 30 days, making it publicly accessible.
This bill (S 2303) proposes creating financial incentives administered by New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) for two types of energy systems: district energy collaboratives (community-scale energy systems serving multiple buildings) and specific combined heat and power (CHP) facilities. It would allow the BPU to offer these incentives to encourage the development and operation of these energy-efficient systems, which generate both electricity and usable heat from a single fuel source. The bill amends existing energy law definitions to clarify these systems' eligibility for incentives. The bill was introduced in the Senate on January 13, 2026, and referred to the Environment and Energy Committee.
This bill extends New Jersey's existing financial incentives for purchasing or leasing new plug-in electric vehicles to include hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. It amends the current incentive program (under P.L.2019, c.362) to define "eligible vehicle" as new hydrogen fuel cell vehicles meeting specific criteria, such as being registered in New Jersey and having an MSRP below $55,000. The change directly affects consumers who buy qualifying hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, making them eligible for the same state incentives previously available only for plug-in electric vehicles. The bill does not alter existing program requirements like the MSRP cap or registration rules, but expands the vehicle types covered under the incentive framework.
This bill (S 682) revises New Jersey's Municipal Land Use Law (MLUL) to modernize land development processes. It adds new goals like promoting renewable energy use and recycling, clarifies timelines for application reviews, and requires the Department of Community Affairs to create standardized model application forms and checklists for municipalities to adopt. These model forms would help streamline how developers submit applications and how local governments review them. The changes directly affect developers, municipal planning boards, and local governments by providing clearer, more uniform procedures for land use approvals. The bill focuses on improving efficiency in the development review process without altering core land use policies.
New Jersey's S 1606, the "Small Modular Nuclear Energy Incentive Act," creates a state program to financially incentivize the construction of small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs). The bill requires the Board of Public Utilities to establish a competitive bidding process awarding payments per megawatt-hour to eligible SMR projects, with priority given to sites at former nuclear, coal, or natural gas power plants or projects including retraining for displaced workers. SMRs must be under 300 megawatts, factory-assembled, and licensed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The program aims to support reliable, low-emission electricity generation while helping New Jersey meet clean energy goals and replace jobs lost from retiring fossil fuel plants.
This bill directs New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to create a rebate program for residents and businesses purchasing zero-emission lawn equipment, such as electric mowers or leaf blowers. Rebates are calculated as 25% of the purchase price, capped at $50 for equipment under $250, $100 for $250-$500 models, and $150 for equipment over $500. The program will be funded using the societal benefits charge, and the BPU must advertise rebates similarly to existing clean energy incentives. The bill requires the BPU to consider environmental benefits of reducing gas-powered equipment use but does not mandate specific participation or outcomes.
This bill creates a tax credit for businesses developing anaerobic digestion facilities that process food waste in New Jersey. It allows eligible taxpayers to claim a credit equal to up to 50% of facility development costs or $250,000 per facility, whichever is lower, against their corporation business tax. The credit is available for six years, with a total cap of $15 million in combined credits statewide. The policy directly affects businesses constructing these facilities, aiming to incentivize investment in infrastructure that converts food waste into biogas while excluding donated food and consumer waste from eligibility.
This bill requires all new residential buildings in New Jersey to install smart thermostats (defined as internet-connected devices, commonly called "wi-fi thermostats") in every residential unit. Builders must include these provisions in construction permit applications to be approved. The Commissioner of Community Affairs, with the Board of Public Utilities, will create energy efficiency standards for these thermostats through regulations. The requirement would take effect seven months after the bill becomes law. This directly affects new home construction projects and developers seeking building permits.
Bill S 3189 establishes a new Division of Energy Resource and Development within the Department of the Treasury to centralize energy policy work. It transfers specific responsibilities from the Board of Public Utilities (BPU), including energy efficiency programs, clean energy initiatives, electric vehicle incentives, and energy generation planning, to this new division. The division will be led by a Governor-appointed Director tasked with managing the transition and overseeing operations. Its key duties include advancing New Jersey's clean energy goals, supporting state emissions reduction targets, and developing energy crisis response strategies.
S 731 requires New Jersey electric utilities to create special pricing plans for large data centers (defined as facilities with 100+ megawatts monthly demand) to protect regular electricity customers from cost increases. The bill mandates that these plans must prevent non-data center ratepayers from bearing costs from data centers' high energy use and incentivize data centers to improve energy efficiency, including using waste heat. Utilities must submit these plans to the Board of Public Utilities within 180 days, and the rules will take effect one year after the bill passes. Key requirements include data centers committing to 85% service levels for 10 years, proving project uniqueness, and providing financial guarantees to cover potential cost overruns if they reduce service.
