Clean Energy

Programs and Incentives

Loans for clean energy projects & businesses in NJ 

Matching loan from a financial institution required 

NJEDA loans: $250,000 – $10M with reduced interest rates 



To learn more visit: 

New Jersey Clean Energy Loans: NJ CELs – NJEDA 

Voucher program to support NJ businesses and institutions to purchase new, medium and heavy duty zero-emission vehicles 

NJ ZIP Phase 3 Vouchers: $15K to $175K base per vehicle, with up to $3M total allowed per EIN 

To learn more visit: 

NJ ZIP – NJEDA

Low-interest rate loan program to support NJ commercial and industrial organizations that are seeking financing for new, medium and heavy duty zero-emission vehicles.

NJ ZEV loans: $50,000 – $500,000 per applicant

Can cover up to 100% of eligible vehicle costs (1 or more vehicles)

To learn more visit:

NJ ZEV Financing – NJEDA

Facilitates private capital for clean energy & resiliency improvements to real estate 

Repaid as a special assessment, similar to property tax 

Senior, non-accelerating lien that stays with the property if ownership changes 

Loan-to-value amount varies, terms up to 30 years 

To learn more visit: 

Garden State C-PACE – NJEDA 

$50K-$1M grants for retrofit projects that upgrade building heating and cooling systems to less polluting alternatives to reduce operating emissions when coupled with new on-site renewable energy or storage.


For existing small businesses and institutional (schools, non-profits, local government) buildings in State overburdened communities

To learn more visit: 

NJ Cool – NJEDA 

$2.5M-$10M grants for multi-pronged, large-scale retrofit projects that enable holistic energy improvements at buildings, campuses, and multi-building facilities

$2.5M-$12.5M grants for projects that involve Thermal Energy Networks (TENs)

To learn more visit:
RETROFIT NJ Program – NJEDA

$100,000- $5M grants for charging infrastructure projects, including hardware and installation costs

Supports private commercial fleets or entities partnered with an eligible fleet transitioning to EVs

Grants will cover 50-60% percent of eligible costs

To learn more visit: 

Take Charge Program – NJEDA

New Jersey has taken bold steps to accelerate our transition to a cleaner future. The State has committed to 100% clean energy by 2035: one of the Nation’s most ambitious clean energy goals. New Jersey is also one of only ten states in the nation with an energy storage target (2,000 MW by 2030). We are also actively supporting the roll-out of 330,000 zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) on our roads by 2025 through our “Partnership to Plug-in.”

Whether you are focused on supporting clean energy projects today or working to create the clean energy economy of tomorrow, NJEDA’s Clean Energy team is here to support and partner with you. We work with businesses and other entities to support renewable energy generation and storage, reduced vehicle emissions, building energy efficiency, clean energy workforce development, and more. 

Environmental Justice & Overburdened Communities 

What are Overburdened Communities?

New Jersey passed a landmark Environmental Justice Law in 2020 (N.J.S.A. 13:1D-157). That law included a definition of “Overburdened Communities” in the State census block groups with:

  • at least 35 percent low-income households; or 
  • at least 40 percent of the residents identifying as minority or as members of a State recognized tribal community; or 
  • at least 40 percent of the households having limited English proficiency. 

Several NJEDA programs use “Overburdened Communities” in their criteria – explore the map below to find out if your business is located in an Overburdened Community. 

Environmental Justice in New Jersey 

Historically, New Jersey’s low-income communities and communities of color have been subject to a disproportionately high number of environ-mental and public health stressors, including pollution from numerous industrial, commercial, and governmental facilities located in those communities and, as a result, suffer from increased adverse health effects including, but not limited to, asthma, cancer, elevated blood lead levels, cardiovascular disease, and developmental disorders. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) is working to correct these outcomes by furthering the promise of environmental justice. Learn more here: https://dep.nj.gov/ej/

Overburdened Communities (OBC) Map 

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) – Overburdened Communities Interactive Map 

NJEDA Clean Energy Funding

Since the creation of the Clean Energy team, NJEDA has committed over $375M towards clean energy. Those funds come from a variety of sources, including the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI), and New Jersey State Budget Appropriations.

The RGGI is a multi-state, market-based program that establishes a regional cap on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the electric power generation sector and therefore allowing for auctioning of emissions rights. Launched in 2005, RGGI was the first mandatory greenhouse gas “cap-and-invest” program in the United States. States use the proceeds from the CO2 allowance auctions to invest in programs to help further reduce CO2 and other greenhouse gas pollution, spur clean and renewable energy, and provide rate relief on energy bills. 

Three agencies, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU), and the NJEDA, collaborate on the creation of New Jersey’s RGGI Strategic Funding Plan, which identifies how the RGGI auction proceeds will be utilized for over 3-year funding periods.

New Jersey’s RGGI funds allocation is governed by the Global Warming Solutions Fund Act (P.L. 2008, c. 340). By statute, proceeds from auctions are deposited into the Global Warming Solutions Fund. After administration fees are deducted from the pool, NJEDA receives 60% of the remaining funding for programming (focus area: commercial, institutional, and industrial entities). NJBPU and NJDEP each receive 20% of the remaining funding for programming (focus areas, respectively: low income and moderate income residential; and local government, forests, and tidal marshes). To learn more about RGGI and New Jersey’s allocated funding, please visit: NJDEP | Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) | Air Quality, Energy and Sustainability (AQES)

New Jersey has established an ambitious goal of generating 11 GW of electricity from offshore wind energy by 2040 as part of the State’s Energy Master Plan to transition to 100% clean energy by 2035. 

If you’re looking for information about offshore wind in New Jersey, please visit the NJEDA’s Offshore Wind page to learn more! 

Our Team

Dan Fatton
Director – Clean Energy
Ahmed Chaudry
Manager – Clean Energy
Lloyd Lomelino
Project Lead – NJ Cool
Jessica Parineet
Project Lead – Take Charge
609-802-9652
jessica.parineet@njeda.gov
Cassie Havens
Project Lead – NJ ZIP
609-960-5962
cassandra.havens@njeda.gov
Sebastian Gunbeyi
Project Lead – NJ Cels
609-306-5651
Sebastian.Gunbeyi@njeda.gov

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RELATED NEWS

September 30, 2026

NJEDA to Open Applications for Take Charge Program

TRENTON, N.J. (September 30, 2026) – The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) will open applications for the Take Charge Program on Monday, October 5, 2026.

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August 26, 2026

NJEDA Updates Clean Energy Programs to Advance New Projects & Drive Down Energy Costs

TRENTON, N.J. (August 26, 2026) – The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) Board recently approved modifications to the Take Charge Program and the NJ Cool Program to increase available funding, advance new solar and energy storage installations, reduce energy bills for businesses and institutions, and drive down greenhouse gas emissions.

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August 13, 2026

NJEDA and Nuveen Green Capital Announce Closing of $101M Loan under the Garden State C-PACE Program for Lionsgate Studios Newark 

TRENTON, N.J. (August 13, 2026) – Today, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) and Nuveen Green Capital announced the closing of a $101 million loan under the Garden State Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) Program.

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Upcoming Events

14
10:00 am
Wednesday

October 14, 2026

NJ Cool Phase 2 Program Updates

Virtual
This webinar will provide an overview of the program updates to Phase 2 of the NJ Cool Pilot Program.
Learn More
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