What’s Happening

Gov. Phil Murphy on Wednesday outlined the next big steps for his climate plan, vowing to push a ban on the sale of gasoline-fueled vehicles in 2035 and putting in place zero-emission heating and cooling systems in nearly a half-million homes and businesses by the end of this decade.

In a series of executive orders, Murphy said he also plans to speed up a transition to a 100% clean-energy economy by 2035 — 15 years ahead of the goal he set in his first term — and announced  a comprehensive review for the future of natural gas and four existing utilities in New Jersey in a world not reliant on using the fossil fuel.

The latter provision is similar to a bill recently introduced by Sen. Bob Smith, a Democrat from Middlesex County and chairman of the Senate Environment and Energy Committee. His bill also would set up a new clean-energy standard that power suppliers must follow.

“These bold targets and carefully crafted initiatives signal our unequivocal commitment to swift and concrete climate action today,’’ Murphy said in prepared remarks. He gave a broad overview of his environmental goals in a half-hour speech at Rutgers University in New Brunswick.

‘No one is coming for anyone’s gas stove. No one is walking into anyone’s kitchen. No one is going to be forced to do anything, in any way.’ — Gov. Phil Murphy

Murphy’s main thrust is a focus on reducing the carbon emissions contributing to climate change from the transportation and building sectors, the two largest source of global warming pollution. His administration has aggressively begun the transformation to electric vehicles but has made little headway in electrifying the building sector, a much more controversial issue as Murphy acknowledged.

A plan to retrofit

“No one is coming for anyone’s gas stove. No one is walking into anyone’s kitchen. No one is going to be forced to do anything, in any way,’’ Murphy said. Instead, the administration will target 400,000 residential homes and 20,000 commercial spaces to be retrofitted with zero-emission cooling and heating systems, presumably with electric heat pumps, using federal dollars.

For the most part, clean-energy advocates welcomed the initiatives, calling them strong actions to address the urgency of the climate crisis. “With affordable and clean electricity, New Jersey can leverage billions of dollars to rapidly decarbonize the building sector,’’ said Eric Miller, an energy policy director at the Natural Resources Defense Council.The more aggressive climate agenda is being proposed at a time when Murphy’s clean-energy push has come under increasing scrutiny, including his signature proposal for New Jersey to be a hub for offshore wind. Critics have blamed increased offshore wind activity for a wave of whales washing ashore on beaches in the region, although little evidence has been found to back their claims.

Others, however, repeated long-standing criticisms of the administration’s clean-energy agenda — its failure to detail what it will end up costing consumers.

‘By going so fast, we’re leaving out all future technologies. We are choosing the most complex, costly way to get there.’ — Raymond Cantor, NJBIA

“As a practical matter, you cannot physically get it done within this time frame,’’ said Raymond Cantor, deputy chief government affairs officer for NJBIA (New Jersey Business & Industry Association). “By going so fast, we’re leaving out all future technologies. We are choosing the most complex, costly way to get there.’’

By the administration’s projections, 85% of New Jersey’s electricity will come from clean-energy sources, a category that includes renewable sources such as solar panels and offshore wind as well as nuclear power, which does not emit any greenhouse gas emissions.

Supporters, skeptics

The New Jersey Utilities Association vowed to work with the administration to convert to a clean-energy state. However, Rich Henning, chief executive officer of the association, noted energy grids have buckled under the weight of heightened clean-energy mandates.

“We have seen issues arise when good intentions are not matched with proper planning,’’ he said. “The consequences could be devastating for any long-term renewable energy goals.’’Mike Makarski, a spokesman for Affordable Energy for New Jersey, a group highly critical of the clean-energy plan, doubted whether the new targets set by the governor’s executive orders can be met.

“Perhaps, if this administration were actually serious, there would be policy meetings with experts, instead of governing by press release. This is another insult to the taxpayers of New Jersey and should be immediately dismissed,’’ Makarski said.

The push to convert to all zero-emission vehicles essentially adopts a program enacted in California. It requires manufacturers to sell an increasing percentage of new zero-emission cars and light-duty trucks, with 100% of new vehicle sales to be zero-emission by 2035. Clean-car advocates have pressed Murphy to follow New York, Oregon, Vermont and Massachusetts, which followed California last year.

‘While late to the party, we are pleased that New Jersey has finally joined California.’ — Pam Frank, ChargEVC-NJ

“While late to the party, we are pleased that New Jersey has finally joined California,’’ said Pam Frank, CEO of ChargEVC-NJ. “Much work, way beyond an announcement, is needed to achieve a full transition to electrified transportation.’’

In addition to the California program, Murphy also announced $70 million in funds from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative — an organization representing eastern states that distributes money collected from fossil-fueled power plants to fund clean-energy projects — will be used to finance electrification of medium- and heavy-duty trucks, forklifts and buses in New Jersey.

Finally, the state Department of Environmental Protection plans to propose new rules this year to provide enhanced flood protection for residents, particularly those subject to increased flooding from a rise in sea levels and unusually heavy rainstorms.