At our regional meeting we talked about how we should familiarize ourselves with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection website is: dep.nj.gov. They offer opportunities to get involved with them and other resources. They have an amazing newsletter one can sign up for as well. They provide opportunities for public participation and work to empower residents among other things.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) website at dep.nj.gov offers a wealth of information and resources for residents of New Jersey. [1][2]

Some key highlights:

Opportunities to Get Involved
The NJDEP provides numerous opportunities for public participation and engagement. This includes:
– Citizen Science Equipment Loan Program, which allows residents to borrow equipment to monitor local environmental conditions[1]
– Public comment periods on proposed regulations and initiatives, such as the draft NJDEP Strategic Climate Action Plan[2]
– Volunteer programs like the NJ Saltwater Registry, which helps track the impacts of saltwater anglers[2]

Informative Resources
The NJDEP website hosts a variety of educational resources, including:
– Information on air quality, water quality, wildlife, and other environmental topics[1][2]
– Guides on issues like harmful algal blooms and PFAS “forever chemicals”[2]
– Climate change resources, such as a summary for teachers and interactive learning stations in state parks[2]

Empowering Residents
The NJDEP works to empower New Jersey residents by:
– Providing data and tools to help people understand environmental conditions in their local area[1][2]
– Launching initiatives like the nation’s first environmental justice rules to reduce pollution in overburdened communities[2]
– Offering programs and services to support storm recovery, flood resilience, and other climate change adaptation efforts[2]

Overall, the NJDEP website is an invaluable resource for New Jersey residents to stay informed, get involved, and take action on environmental issues in their communities. [1][2][3][4]

Citations:
[1] https://www.epa.gov/nj
[2] https://dep.nj.gov
[3] https://www.linkedin.com/company/newjerseydep
[4] https://njdep.rutgers.edu

Based on my research results, the key policies and initiatives of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) regarding renewable energy are:

1. Successor Solar Incentive (SuSI) Program:
– The NJDEP has established the SuSI Program as the long-term incentive program for new solar generation facilities in New Jersey.[2]
– The SuSI Program consists of two sub-programs: the Administratively Determined Incentive (ADI) Program and the Community Solar Energy Program (CSEP).[2]
– The ADI Program provides administratively set incentives for net metered residential, non-residential, and community solar projects of 5 MW (dc) or less.[2]
– The CSEP, which opens in December 2023, provides incentives to eligible community solar facilities to enable continued development of this sector.[2]

2. Offshore Wind Development:
– In 2020, the NJBPU (New Jersey Board of Public Utilities) approved the New Jersey Offshore Wind Strategic Plan, which aims to achieve 7,500 MW of offshore wind energy by 2035.[2]
– This plan was developed through a public stakeholder process and provides recommendations on establishing an offshore wind industry that achieves net economic benefits while protecting the environment and other interests.[2]

3. Clean Energy Transition:
– The NJDEP is working to advance New Jersey’s greenhouse gas reduction goals by transitioning to a clean energy future, including through the promotion of solar, offshore wind, and other renewable energy sources.[3][4]
– A new bill, the New Jersey Clean Energy Act of 2023, has been proposed to accelerate the state’s transition to 100% clean electricity by 2035, though its details and feasibility are still being debated.[5]

Overall, the NJDEP is actively promoting and supporting the development of renewable energy, particularly solar and offshore wind, through various incentive programs and strategic planning efforts.[1][2][3][4]

Citations:
[1] https://dep.nj.gov/cleanenergy/incentives/
[2] https://www.njcleanenergy.com/renewable-energy
[3] https://dep.nj.gov/cleanenergy/
[4] https://dep.nj.gov/cleanenergy/technologies/solar/
[5] https://www.njspotlightnews.org/2023/02/nj-sees-tighter-deadline-in-new-push-for-clean-energy/

Training Notes