Environmental
NJR is committed to playing a central role in building a cleaner, more sustainable future. We support public policy goals for greenhouse gas emissions reduction that address the urgency of climate change. We’ve set ambitious emissions reduction goals for our own company in line with this commitment, and our broader sustainability strategy charts our company’s path to make broad-based decarbonization a reality across our businesses, and to contribute to these efforts across the economy.
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Net-Zero Goal for New Jersey Operational Emissions
For over 15 years, NJR has answered the call to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including both methane control and emissions from our own business operations.
Over a decade ago, we set and quickly met our first goal to reduce operational emissions by 20% from 2006 levels by 2020 by reducing emissions from our fleet, facilities and distribution system.
We then set a new goal to reduce our New Jersey operational emissions by 50% from 2006 levels by 2030. This goal encompassed Scope 1 and 2 emissions from New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG), NJR Clean Energy Ventures (NJRCEV), NJR Home Services (NJRHS) and NJR Energy Services (NJRES). We met this goal well ahead of schedule through initiatives that included: adding solar installations at a number of our facilities, the purchase of renewable electricity to offset our remaining electricity usage, continued investment in our distribution system and the purchase of RNG offsets for natural gas used at NJNG and NJRHS' facilities and our compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered fleet vehicles.
Building on that record of leadership, NJR set a goal in fiscal 2021 to achieve net-zero carbon emissions from our New Jersey operations by 2050. This goal continues to show our leadership and commitment to decarbonization by going beyond the State of New Jersey's statutory goal to reduce GHG emissions to 80% of 2006 levels by 2050, as established in 2007 through the Global Warming Response Act.
As an interim goal on our journey to our net-zero target, we now expect to reduce operational emissions by 60% from 2006 levels by 2030. Our continued progress in fiscal 2023 toward meeting this new target is a result of NJNG’s continued investment in its distribution system, including the removal of unprotected steel. The remainder of our emissions reduction are expected to come from strategies that include the use of low- and zero-emissions vehicles, the continued integration of low- and zero-carbon fuels in our fleet and investments in decarbonized fuels.
NJNG's Green Hydrogen Project
NJNG’s green hydrogen blending facility, the first of its kind on the east coast, has now been in operation for a year, helping to lower carbon emissions from the energy we deliver. This facility showcases the real-world value of our pipeline infrastructure to integrate, store, transport and deliver blended clean hydrogen as a critical tool in achieving emissions reduction goals more affordably and more reliably. Learn more.
NJR’s Leadership in Low- and Zero-Emission Fuels
As the parent company of New Jersey Natural Gas, one of the four regulated natural gas utilities in the state, we are leveraging our existing natural gas utility infrastructure to store, transport and distribute alternative fuel solutions, in addition to aggressive energy efficiency and bringing forward other carbon-reducing technologies is a realistic path to achieve emissions reduction goals more quickly, more affordably and more reliably than single-technology approaches. Learn more.
Operating a Premier Distribution System
As a leader in proactive pipeline modernization, NJR has long maintained the most environmentally sound natural gas distribution system in New Jersey, as measured by leaks per mile. The progress made to date has been the main driver of our operational emissions reduction in New Jersey. As the last of those leak-prone materials, including cast iron and bare steel, have been removed, we are focused on several operational strategies to support emissions reductions that will enable progress to our 2030 goal and beyond.
Coastal Climate Initiative®
As a company headquartered at the Jersey Shore, we recognize the recreational, ecological and environmental value the coast offers for all residents. That’s why in 2021, we launched the Coastal Climate Initiative to advance environmental restoration, preservation and stewardship in our coastal communities and beyond.
Through this program, we’re supporting the mission of environmental nonprofits to help advance projects and programs designed to improve the resiliency of our ecosystems and impacts from climate change, as well as strengthen community engagement and environmental education.
Conserve to Preserve®
Through Conserve to Preserve our commitment to environmental stewardship — we offer customers tools and resources to make wise energy decisions that help save energy and money and protect our environment.
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SAVEGREEN®
NJNG's energy-efficiency programs, known as SAVEGREEN, have provided some of the most effective and successful energy-saving programs in the state, including rebates, financing options and grants for high-efficiency equipment upgrades.
In fiscal 2023, NJNG invested $60 million – the largest annual investment in energy efficiency in the company’s history – in a variety of programs to support the installation of new and efficient equipment, resulting in annual energy savings of 4.7 million therms or over 25,000 metric tons of CO2.
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