Murphy administration forges electric vehicle alliance

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To meet New Jersey’s clean energy goals, Gov. Phil Murphy unveiled the New Jersey Partnership to Plug-In, an inter-agency collaboration to build the infrastructure that will support electric vehicle ownership, improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The partnership, which will be co-led by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, will create a framework to support the state’s electric vehicle ecosystem, with the goal of registering 330,000 Zero Emission Vehicles by 2025.

“The New Jersey Partnership to Plug-In ensures that we are working collaboratively across state agencies and with our private sector partners, to not only meet, but exceed our goal of registering 330,000 electric vehicles in New Jersey by 2025,” Murphy said in a statement. “This new initiative is part of our broader effort to make renewable energy solutions work for everyone in New Jersey.”

Each agency will have a set of tasks, such as mapping existing and planned charging facilities; installing new facilities, working with lawmakers to establish an electric vehicle rebate program; and creating an attractive corporate environment for ZEV-related companies.

Existing initiatives will be enhanced by the partnership’s work. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection recently launched an electric vehicle charging station map and the Board of Public Utilities plans to share a draft of the state’s Energy Master Plan in June. The draft EMP will outline ongoing and potential new initiatives across state government to achieve 100 percent clean energy by 2050.