ASSEMBLY ENVIRONMENT AND SOLID WASTE COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 5720

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  NOVEMBER 15, 2021

      The Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 5720.

      This bill, as amended by the committee, would codify in law certain State energy goals advanced for the years 2025 to 2035 in the 2019 New Jersey Energy Master Plan, prepared pursuant to section 12 of P.L.1977, c.146 (C.52:27F-14).  The bill would also direct the Board of Public Utilities (BPU), Department of the Treasury, New Jersey Transit Corporation, Department of Community Affairs, Department of Transportation, and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to review current rules and regulations and notify the Legislature of any instances in which the existing statutory authority is insufficient to achieve the goals.  In addition, the bill would require the BPU to submit an annual report to the Legislature on the State's progress in meeting the goals.  Lastly, the bill would require the first update of the New Jersey Energy Master Plan, after the date of enactment of the bill into law, to conform to, or exceed, the goals set forth in the bill.

      As amended and reported by the committee, this bill is identical to Senate Bill No. 3667 (1R) as also amended reported by the committee.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amendments to the bill would:

      1)   specify that certain goals of the bill are related to electric vehicles and the transportation sector, and add a new subsection establishing goals related to the use of clean energy;

      2)   delete certain goals concerning the percentage of electricity used in the State produced by renewable sources and goals related to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, add new goals concerning clean energy, and revise the goals concerning energy storage;

      3)   delete the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey from the list of agencies directed to review their current rules and regulations in relationship to the goals in the bill;

      4)   provide that the annual report would be prepared by the BPU, rather than the DEP; and

      5)   require updates of the New Jersey Energy Master Plan, after the date of enactment of the bill into law, to conform to, or exceed, the goals set forth in the bill.