This bill revises the statutory requirements for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions monitoring and reporting in New Jersey, particularly focusing on the activities of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Board of Public Utilities (BPU). Key changes include the introduction of definitions for "indirect greenhouse gas," which encompasses nitrogen oxides and hydrogen, and the clarification that GHG emissions monitoring will also include these indirect contributors. The bill mandates that the DEP provide the global warming potential of emissions from significant sources using a 20-year time horizon and requires annual GHG reports to be published within six months after the end of the reporting year. Additionally, it establishes the need for monitoring progress toward the 2030 GHG emissions objective set by Executive Order No. 274 (2021).

Further provisions of the bill require significant emitters of indirect GHGs to report their emissions, and the DEP is tasked with contracting a satellite technology provider to enhance GHG monitoring capabilities. The bill also expands the existing requirement for state agencies to utilize a 20-year time horizon for global warming potentials to all studies, assessments, regulations, or incentives related to GHG emissions. Lastly, it stipulates that any relevant studies or assessments must include methane and nitrous oxide emissions, as well as fugitive emissions and leakages, ensuring a comprehensive approach to GHG emissions reporting and management in New Jersey.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 26:2C-39, 26:2C-41, 26:2C-59