This bill revises the statutory requirements for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions monitoring and reporting activities in New Jersey, particularly those conducted by 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 GHG emissions from significant sources, calculated using a 20-year time horizon, and requires annual GHG reports to be published within six months after the end of the calendar year.

Additionally, the bill establishes a 2030 objective for GHG emissions reduction, as set by Executive Order No. 274 (2021), and requires significant emitters of indirect GHGs to report their emissions. It also directs the DEP to contract with a provider of satellite GHG sensing technology to enhance monitoring capabilities. Furthermore, the bill expands the requirement for state agencies to utilize a 20-year time horizon for global warming potentials across all relevant studies, assessments, regulations, or incentives, ensuring that methane, nitrous oxide emissions, and fugitive emissions are included in these evaluations.

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