New Jersey has become part of a nine-state coalition seeking to accelerate a transition to zero-emission residential buildings.
The states issued a memorandum of understanding pledging that each of them would facilitate a market shift to high-efficiency, zero-emissions electric technologies. The shared goal of the memorandum is that highly efficient heat pumps will comprise 65% of residential heating, cooling and water heating equipment sales by 2030 across the participating states.
The states that signed the memorandum are California, Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon and Rhode Island.
In New Jersey, residential buildings are second only to vehicle emissions as a source of climate emissions and air pollution, according to supporters of the memorandum.
Concerns about costs have hampered the market move to heat pumps, along with worries that electric heat pumps may not produce satisfactory level of warmth in cold climates. Supporters counter with the fact that Maine is making headway in the installation of heat pumps in a climate colder than New Jersey’s.
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities has approved the development of financial incentives to aid in the transition to heat pumps. The memorandum pledges funding for low-income households and “communities historically burdened with elevated air pollution levels.”
Contact the author, Vince Conti, at vconti@cmcherald.com.