The Murphy administration announced Dec. 20 it will use nearly $13 million in proceeds from the state’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) to purchase electric trucks and buses for areas overburdened by air pollution.

The proceeds will fund 45 electric garbage trucks, dump trucks, shuttle buses and charging stations owned by 22 of these overburdened communities throughout the state.

“This funding supports our vehicle electrification and climate mitigation goals and is part of a holistic approach that the Murphy Administration is taking to combat global warming and protect our residents,” said Commissioner of Environmental Protection Shawn LaTourette.

He stressed that the awards are part of the Murphy administration’s broader goals of electrifying the state’s transportation sector – noting that it remains the largest source of greenhouse gases in the state, at 37% of all emissions.

Since New Jersey rejoined RGGI in 2019, the state has awarded more than $360 million in proceeds for a number of such decarbonization projects in these overburdened communities, including:

• 458 electric trucks and cargo vans
• 201 electric school buses
• 242 electric buses and shuttle buses
• 179 electric airport and port vehicles and equipment

New Jersey has also funded nine electric ridesharing projects to increase clean mobility options for urban residents.

“We will continue to look for opportunities to develop and fund these types of projects to ensure that all residents benefit from our electrification investments,” LaTourette added.

Leaders of communities receiving grants welcomed the announcement.

“These new electric vehicles are an important boost toward our goal of establishing a fully electric municipal fleet and reducing greenhouse gas emissions to help improve residents’ health and the environment,” said Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop.

“This grant will allow the city to purchase 19 electric vehicles for the hardworking men and women of the Public Works Department,” said Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr. “We thank the state for their support.”

“I am thrilled this helps the DPW [Department of Public Works] significantly reduce emissions and modernizes the fleet that keeps Red Bank running and serving its residents well,” said Red Bank Borough Councilwoman Nancy Face-Blackwood.

A list of projects funded in this latest round of RGGI auction proceeds can be found here.