State Launches Clean Buildings Working Group

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Environment

On Oct 4, 2022

The Murphy administration launched the Clean Buildings Working Group at the New Jersey Board of Public Utility’s Clean Energy Conference yesterday. The Working Group, a collaboration between the Governor’s Office of Climate Action and the Green Economy (OCAGE) and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU), will serve as a cross-sector collaborative of stakeholders and experts in industry, government, building science, organized labor, environmental justice, and workforce development that is expected to inform on pathways to greener, cleaner buildings in the state. Gov. Murphy’s climate action agenda requires innovative solutions to decarbonize the building sector in order to fulfill the state’s commitment to achieve a 100% clean energy economy and reduce emissions by 80% from 2006 levels by 2050.

“Accomplishing our aggressive, but achievable, emissions reduction targets requires a comprehensive approach to climate action, one that unites the state, labor, industry, and communities in pursuit of a common goal,” said Murphy.

Working Group members are expected to bring insight and experience to drive the adoption of energy efficiency improvements and emissions reduction upgrades in buildings while supporting critical repairs for low-to-moderate income housing and expanding opportunities for green buildings job growth. The Working Group is also expected to help guide the state’s strategic roadmap to clean buildings, laying out recommendations for policy, legislative, workforce, and funding strategies to create cleaner, greener buildings that support and benefit New Jersey families and workers.

“The Murphy administration is harnessing the power of innovation and cross-cutting partnerships to confront the increasing urgency of climate change,” said OCAGE Executive Director Jane Cohen. “Climate impacts will affect us all, and so the strategies we deploy must similarly involve all New Jerseyans, from business and labor leaders to communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis. The Clean Buildings Working Group will ensure that every voice is heard as we pursue the decarbonization of the buildings sector, a critical component of the Administration’s efforts to significantly reduce emissions while spurring green buildings job growth.”

“NJBPU is excited to collaborate on the Clean Buildings Working Group,” said BPU President Joseph L. Fiordaliso. “Building decarbonization remains a priority of the Board and is a key aspect of the Energy Master Plan. Bringing together a cohort of experts under this one umbrella is a great way to not only develop innovative solutions for a priority of the Administration’s Climate Action Agenda and receive the input of stakeholders, but to achieve the buy in of all of the key interested parties that will help us achieve the best solution or solutions possible.”

Along with representatives from the BPU, Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Community Affairs, Economic Development Authority, and Department of the Treasury, the Working Group will include the following members and will continue to grow and expand as the State pursues its climate action agenda:

Heather Deese, Dandelion Energy
Donnell Baird, BlocPower
Mike Psihoules, Fujitsu
Amy Cradic, New Jersey Natural
Jared Rodriguez, Advisor, LeFrak Builders
AJ Sabath, Building Trades
Charles Wowkanech, NJ AFL-CIO
Debra Coyle, Work Environment Council
Steven Gardner, Laborers
Ian Leonard, IBEW
Kevin Kenney, Operating Engineers Local 68
Eric Miller, Natural Resources Defense Council
Jason Kliwinski, New Jersey Green Building Center
Michael Kornitas, Rutgers Center for Green Building
Dale Bryk, senior rellow of Energy and Environment, Regional Planning Association
Nicole Miller, principal of MnM Consulting and steering committee member of the New Jersey Progressive Equitable Energy Coalition (NJPEEC)
Melissa Miles, NJ Environmental Justice Alliance
Andre Thomas, training manager, Isles NJ