Photo of the day: Murphy unveils new climate-change goals

During a Feb. 15 address at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, Gov. Phil Murphy announced new initiatives to build upon the state’s climate goals.

At the top of the agenda: accelerating the state’s target of 100% clean energy by 2035 instead of the previously announced goal of 2050. Additionally, the governor announced plans for the electrification of the state’s building sector and New Jersey’s natural gas utilities. He signed three Executive Orders Wednesday morning for these initiatives.

“After many months of stakeholder conversations and policy planning, we are ready to take the next six big steps in our fight against climate change,” said Murphy.

The governor outlined six pillars that aim for a “cleaner, greener, and more resilient New Jersey,” including the previously mentioned accelerated clean-energy target as well as:

• a plan for installing zero-carbon-emission space heating and cooling systems in homes and commercial properties
• an outline for the future of natural gas utility in the state
• the allocation of $70 million toward lowering consumer costs for medium- and heavy-duty EV adoption
• the requirement for all new cars and light-duty truck sales to be zero-emission vehicles by 2035
• a planned proposal for enhanced flood protection for homeowners, businesses and infrastructure

“New Jersey has remained at the forefront of meaningful climate action since the outset of the Murphy Administration, and today’s commitments prove that we are fortifying our state’s resilience with more focus than ever before,” Jane Cohen, executive director of the Governor’s Office of Climate Action and the Green Economy, said in the governor’s office statement.

NJBIZ reporter Matthew Fazelpoor contributed to this report. Stay tuned to NJBIZ.com for complete coverage of the address.