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The College of New Jersey kicked off its celebration of Earth Week 2024 unveiling plans for comprehensive energy strategy to chart its carbon neutral future.

“TCNJ 2040: The Carbon Neutral Journey” will establish a roadmap to convert campus equipment that is reliant upon fossil fuels toward carbon-free energy sources, such as renewable and nuclear power.

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities will help fund the effort through a program focused on colleges and universities, according to TCNJ’s April 22 announcement. Under the Higher Education Decarbonization Pilot Program, TCNJ said it will receive full reimbursement for the cost of developing the plan. Additionally, the program provides incentives for investments made on carbon reductions, according to TCNJ.

The NJBPU pilot incentivizes a range of decarbonization strategies, such as: energy efficiency, beneficial electrification, electric vehicle chargers, storage as well as combined heat and power.

“This roadmap will identify ways to reduce emissions associated with how we use energy on campus,” Paul Romano, senior director of sustainability and energy management at TCNJ, in a statement. “It will also address how we can reduce emissions attributable to the production of power, as well as energy used to travel to and from campus.”

It’s too soon to tell how much TCNJ 2040 will cost. According to Romano, one of the study’s goals is to determine the costs associated with executing the plan to completion.

Up to $5 million is available per applicant under the pilot, according to the NJBPU website.

Romano credited the program for the opportunity it affords. He said it allows “colleges like TCNJ to make investments that produce financial savings immediately, while also serving the goal of preserving our environment and mitigating adverse effects attributable to increased carbon emissions.”

Early adaptor

“We anticipate the plan will identify phases of the project to be completed over the next 16 years to reach the goal of full completion by 2040,” Romano told NJBIZ in a statement. “The available funding from NJBPU must be spent within three years, so we plan to identify projects that can be completed within this timeframe. These projects could include electric vehicle charging and thermal energy storage.”

TCNJ said it engaged Salas O’Brien and engineering consultant team BOND. The pair has also developed similar studies in the region, including for Princeton University, according to TCNJ. Romano said the study will take approximately 12 months to complete.

“As an early Climate Commitment signatory, TCNJ set an admirable example in the higher education community,” said Mike Walters, Salas Obrien’s district energy market leader. “Assessing a breadth of viable decarbonization strategies and scenarios in a long-term carbon neutral plan will create an actionable roadmap for the college.”

In 2007, TCNJ was one of the first institutions of its kind to join the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment. Ten years later TCNJ signed onto a pledge supporting implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement. Last year, five solar installations opened on campus.

The school’s Monday announcement highlighted efforts already taken to reduce its carbon footprint. According to TCNJ, it is one of the first higher education institutions in New Jersey to install photovoltaics, EV charging stations, geothermal heating and cooling systems, and fuel cells on campus.

Multi-pronged approach

There are also other projects underway at TCNJ to target energy efficiency and EV charging. Working with PSE&G, the college is undergoing an energy audit of all campus facilities to identify areas of both energy as well as cost savings. Expanding EV options will bring Level II and III public charging to campus.

“We applaud TCNJ for its drive toward decarbonizing its energy systems, and we’re pleased to continue our long-established partnership as TCNJ pursues this path,” PSE&G Senior Vice President of Transmission and Distribution John Latka commented. “Our aim is to be a positive force in a changing world by providing access to safe, affordable, reliable and cleaner energy.

“PSE&G helps institutions like TCNJ as they look for ways to strengthen and modernize their energy systems, increase reliability and resiliency in their community, while also identifying important means to save energy and money along the way,” Latka said.