ASSEMBLY ENVIRONMENT, NATURAL RESOURCES, AND SOLID WASTE COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 2319

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  SEPTEMBER 23, 2024

      The Assembly Environment, Natural Resources, and Solid Waste Committee reports favorably, and with committee amendments, Assembly Bill No. 2319.

      As amended by the committee, this bill would direct the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to establish a rebate program, for the purchase of zero-emission lawn equipment, using funding obtained through the societal benefits charge.  In establishing the rebate program, the BPU would be directed to take into consideration the environmental benefits of reducing the use of gas-powered lawn equipment in the State.

      The amended bill would further require the BPU to determine the appropriate level of funding for the rebate program, and to additionally calculate the dollar amount of the individual rebates, issued thereunder, based on the sale price of the zero-emission lawn equipment device purchased by residents or businesses, as follows:

      (1) for the purchase of zero-emission lawn equipment costing $250 or less, the amount of the rebate is to equal 25 percent of the cost of the device or $50, whichever is less;

      (2) for the purchase of zero-emission lawn equipment costing $500 or less, the amount of the rebate is to equal 25 percent of the cost of the device or $100, whichever is less; and

      (3) for the purchase of zero-emission lawn equipment costing over $500, the amount of the rebate is to equal 25 percent of the cost of the device or $150, whichever is less.

      The BPU would be required to advertise the availability of rebates, being offered under the program, in the same manner in which it advertises the availability of incentives for the purchase of energy efficient appliances through the New Jersey Clean Energy Program.

      This bill was prefiled for introduction in the 2024-2025 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill, in order to:

      (1)  authorize the BPU to engage in the expanded issuance of rebates, under the rebate program, for the purchase of all types of zero-emission lawn equipment; not just for the purchase of electric-powered or battery-powered leaf blowers;

      (2)  insert new definitions of the terms, “lawn equipment” and “zero-emission lawn equipment,” and revise the bill’s existing definition of “gas-powered leaf blower” to, instead, reference gas-powered lawn equipment;

      (3)  require the dollar amount of each rebate, offered under the bill, to be based on the sale price of the zero-emission lawn equipment purchased by a resident or business, and to equal the lesser of:  (a) 25 percent of the cost of the device purchased; or (b) $50 in the case of zero-emission lawn equipment costing $250 or less, $100 in the case of zero-emission lawn equipment costing more than $250 and less than $500, or $150 in the case of zero-emission lawn equipment costing more than $500; and

      (4)  update the bill’s title and synopsis to reflect the changes being made to the bill.