Nine Sustainable Energy Projects Announced Support Climate Leadership at Local Level

NJ municipalities and school districts receive Sustainable Jersey grants funded by the Gardinier Environmental Fund

Sustainable Jersey announced today the four school districts and five municipalities selected to receive Sustainable Jersey grants funded by the Gardinier Environmental Fund. Two $20,000 grants and seven $10,000 grants will be distributed to support proposals for innovative energy projects. Projects range from planning and implementing energy efficiency and sustainable energy systems to exciting educational projects such as installing a solar/wind power streetlight and a school greenhouse demonstrating energy and water-saving design. Most of the projects selected also include comprehensive community engagement, education, and outreach components that help ensure that lessons learned and benefits from the project are widely shared.

“There is growing momentum to make 2021 the action year for sustainable energy,” said Randall Solomon, executive director of Sustainable Jersey. “Energy efficiency in buildings, renewable energy, sustainable cooling and heating, and electric vehicles are key to New Jersey’s future. The grant recipients demonstrate leadership and a commitment to advancing climate action.”

“The Gardinier Environmental Fund is committed to conserving the Earth’s energy resources and enhancing renewable energy measures,” said Gene Wentzel, president of the Gardinier Environmental Fund. “We are proud to stand alongside Sustainable Jersey and to continue to fund worthy projects that support our mutual goals in New Jersey.”

Since 2009, Sustainable Jersey has distributed over $5.9 million in grants to participating municipalities and school districts to help make their communities more livable, environmentally friendly and prosperous.

GRANT RECIPIENTS

*Grant*	*County*	*Recipient*	*Project*
$20,000	Camden	Camden City Public Schools	Planning an Energy-Smart Camden Phase 2: The district will complete the second phase of a comprehensive Energy Savings Plan to enact an Energy Savings Improvement Program (ESIP). This initiative will allow the district to reallocate money spent on energy bills to create healthier environments, improve educational programs and reduce its carbon footprint.
$20,000	Morris	Parsippany-Troy Hills Township	Distributed Energy Resources for the Sewer Plant: The township will complete an assessment of its wastewater treatment plant to determine the possibility of installing solar panels, ground source heat pumps, wind energy, and energy storage systems. If the site is viable, the township will install these sustainable energy technologies.
$10,000	Bergen	Maywood Borough	Renewable and Alternative Energy Audit: The borough will conduct a renewable and alternative energy “audit” that will assess the feasibility of solar on all municipal properties. If feasible, the borough will install solar panels to produce renewable electricity locally and save tax-payers’ money.
$10,000	Essex	Newark Public School District	Installation of Wind/Solar Powered Streetlight: The district will install a wind/solar-powered streetlight at Technology High School. The streetlight will allow the district to continue its efforts to create innovative energy educational demonstration projects.
$10,000	Hudson	Jersey City	Jersey City Municipal Fleet Transition Plan: The city will create a fleet transition plan with detailed guidelines for effectively meeting the goal of a municipal fleet with 100% electric vehicles within ten years. The proposed project builds upon Jersey City’s 2018 Fleet Inventory, 2019 Greenhouse Gas Inventory and the ongoing draft Climate Action Plan.
$10,000	Hunterdon	High Bridge Borough School District	Software and Thermostat Upgrades: The district will install seven new thermostat controls at the middle school and upgraded software in one elementary school classroom. The middle school is a 117-year-old building with temperature-control issues, resulting in uncomfortable learning environments. This project will make the building more energy-efficiency and comfortable.
$10,000	Mercer	Princeton	Plans for Transition from Fossil Fuel-Powered Landscaping Equipment: The municipality will work with its school district to develop financially viable plans to transition away from fossil fuel-powered landscaping equipment. It will involve the students and plans to increase staff familiarity and comfort with battery-powered or other alternative equipment.
$10,000	Middlesex	Woodbridge Township	Woodbridge Wheels for Zero-Emissions: The township will create a bike-share program situated within the downtown shopping district and steps away from the Woodbridge Train Station. The program will reduce automobile usuage and help to build a sustainable, zero-emission travel network. The bike-share system will be free to the general public and owned/operated by the municipality.
$10,000	Monmouth	Ocean Township School District	Sustainable Greenhouse for Environmental Studies and Urban Agriculture Program: The district will build an energy-efficient greenhouse to teach students modern urban growing techniques in the face of climate change. The greenhouse will use glazing for efficient sun exposure, geothermal heating, solar energy where possible for supplemental energy and rain-capture irrigation.