20 New Jersey Municipalities and School Districts Matched with EDF Climate Corps® Fellows to Advance Energy Goals
on Jun 01, 2022
Today, Sustainable Jersey announced the 17 municipalities and three school districts that were selected to receive an Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) Climate Corps Fellow. Sustainable Jersey is pairing Climate Corps Fellows with municipalities and school districts to provide expertise and support for evaluation, planning and implementation of projects that will help improve the energy performance of their facilities.
The six 2022 Climate Corps Fellows are compensated through funding provided by the sponsoring utilities including Elizabethtown Gas, Jersey Central Power & Light, New Jersey Natural Gas and South Jersey Gas.
The municipalities and school districts that will be paired with an EDF Climate Corps Fellow in 2022 are:
Atlantic County: City of Ventnor
Cape May County:
- City of Cape May
- Upper Township
Gloucester County: Washington Township
Hunterdon County:
- Delaware Township School District
- East Amwell Township
- Tewksbury Township
Middlesex County: Helmetta Borough
Monmouth County:
- Howell Township
- Borough of Little Silver
- Neptune Township
- Red Bank Borough
Morris County:
- Chatham Borough
- Netcong Borough
- Roxbury Township School District
Ocean County:
- Township of Brick
- Manchester Township
Sussex County: Hopatcong Borough
Union County:
- Borough of Fanwood
- Summit Board of Education
Since the Climate Corps® program’s inception in 2008, over 1,200 graduate students have been placed in more than 540 leading organizations spanning the United States and China. Together they have helped identify energy savings worth more than $1.6 billion, the equivalent of 2.2 million metric tons in carbon emissions. Climate Corps® Senior Director Scott Wood said, “We are delighted to partner with Sustainable Jersey again this year through Environmental Defense Fund’s Climate Corps® program by placing six fellows with school districts and municipalities across New Jersey to advance strategic climate initiatives. This carefully selected group of graduate students will offer the additional capacity needed to accelerate progress on energy reduction efforts that will help to drive down greenhouse gas emissions and cut costs.”
Since 2015, Sustainable Jersey, with the support of New Jersey Natural Gas, has placed 22 EDF Fellows to assist a total of 25 schools/school districts and 26 municipalities. “As part of our commitment to sustainability and climate goals, New Jersey Natural Gas is driving energy-efficiency solutions that can help reduce usage, lower costs and help curb greenhouse gas emissions for all of our customers,” said Anne-Marie Peracchio, managing director of Marketing and Energy Efficiency for New Jersey Natural Gas. “Through the Climate Corp Fellows program, towns and schools in our service territory will benefit from this unique opportunity to receive no-cost, in-depth guidance and insights to help them achieve their sustainability goals.”
South Jersey Gas is funding EDF Fellows for placement in four municipalities. Elizabethtown Gas is funding EDF Fellows for placement in two municipalities and one school district. “South Jersey Gas and Elizabethtown Gas are proud to support the EDF Fellows program through Sustainable Jersey to work with municipalities in our service territories. We strive to empower our customers to become more aware of their energy use, and to implement strategic solutions that lead to energy efficiency and conservation,” said Deborah M. Franco, vice president of Rates, Regulatory and Sustainability at SJI Utilities. “This program complements our expanding suite of efficiency and conservation efforts that are reducing emissions and working towards New Jersey's clean energy future.”
This year, Jersey Central Power & Light is funding EDF Fellows for placement in three municipalities and one school district. “We are proud to welcome the 2022 Class of EDF Fellows,” said James V. Fakult, president of New Jersey operations for FirstEnergy. “New Jersey’s commitment to being a leader in the nation in clean energy and energy efficiency is just part of what makes our state such a fantastic place to live and work. Improving energy efficiency will provide long-term environmental and economic benefits for our communities, JCP&L customers and residents statewide.”
“Providing our municipalities and schools with hands-on help to advance complex climate and sustainable energy projects contributes to progress at the local level and toward the goal of a sustainable New Jersey,” said Sustainable Jersey Executive Director Randall Solomon. “The EDF Fellows bring technical expertise to assist municipal and school district leaders find solutions to today’s sustainability challenges.” Sustainable Jersey has been placing EDF Climate Corps Fellows since 2015. Learn how these Fellows have helped New Jersey municipalities and school districts advance their energy initiatives: Previous EDF Fellow Projects.