For Immediate Release:	Contact: Peter Peretzman
Date: 09/27/2019	609-984-9707

 

Trenton, N.J.—The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) today approved a Request for Quotation (RFQ) to hire a consultant to develop and administer an Electric Vehicle (EV) program. The RFQ is a first step in developing a program to achieve Governor Phil Murphy’s pledge to achieve 330,000 EVs on the road 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 ZEV adoption is crucial in reaching the goal of 100% clean energy by 2050.

 

“Launching the search for an industry expert consultant marks a major step in enacting a truly informed, impactful statewide incentive program that will put New Jersey at the forefront of EV adoption,” said NJBPU President Joseph L. Fiordaliso. “As we work toward achieving the Governor’s goal of 100 percent clean energy by 2050, electric vehicles will be an integral part of our efforts to combat climate change.”

 

Today’s action is the result of a joint effort between Governor Murphy and the state Legislature to earmark $30 million in the state budget from the Clean Energy Fund for a program to support the purchase and use of electric vehicles and infrastructure. Board Staff will develop an EV incentive program to support light duty vehicle adoption in the state which, with the assistance of the consultant, will be refined into a straw proposal for stakeholder engagement.

 

On April 3, 2018, Governor Murphy announced that New Jersey would join other leading states in signing the State Zero-Emission Vehicles Programs Memorandum of Understanding (ZEV MOU). Through the MOU, New Jersey has pledged to work collaboratively with other states to support the deployment of zero-emission vehicles. New Jersey is one of 11 states that have adopted California’s ZEV Program regulations, which apply to vehicle manufacturers and require an increasing percentage of all light duty vehicles sold in the state to be ZEVs.

 

On June 3, Governor Murphy announced the Partnership to Plug-In which is co-led by the Board of Public Utilities, the Department of Environmental Protection, and the Economic Development Authority with contributions from the Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Commission, and Department of Community Affairs. Each state agency is tasked with developing its own set of initiatives to deploy several critical aspects of electrification that together will ensure a comprehensive approach to encouraging EV adoption. NJBPU is considering how to dedicate funds from the Clean Energy Program and the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative to establish a point-of-sale rebate program as an incentive to buy or lease new and used EVs in a manner that serves the state as a whole.

 

The confidential RFQ will be released on Monday, September 30, 2019 with responses due by October 28, 2019. A consultant will be selected and submitted for approval by the Board in Q4 of 2019 in order to utilize the services of the consultant as soon as possible.

 

Additionally, the consultant will help develop a straw proposal and engage stakeholders during Q4 of 2019. Feedback from the Board, Consultant, and stakeholders will culminate in a final proposed program to the Board. The same Consultant would then be tasked with the implementation and administration of the Program.

 

About the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU)
NJBPU is a state agency and regulatory authority mandated to ensure safe, adequate and proper utility services at reasonable rates for New Jersey customers. Critical services regulated by NJBPU include natural gas, electricity, water, wastewater, telecommunications and cable television. The Board has general oversight and responsibility for monitoring utility service, responding to consumer complaints, and investigating utility accidents.
To find out more about NJBPU, visit our web site at www.nj.gov/bpu.

 

About the New Jersey Clean Energy Program (NJCEP)
The NJCEP, established on January 22, 2003, in accordance with the Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act (EDECA), provides financial and other incentives to the State's residential customers, businesses and schools that install high-efficiency or renewable energy technologies, thereby reducing energy usage, lowering customers' nergy bills and reducing environmental impacts. The program is authorized and overseen by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU), and its website is www.NJCleanEnergy.com.