The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has adopted new rules at N.J.A.C. 7:27-22.28 and 7:27C and amendments to N.J.A.C. 7:27-22.1 and 22.16, and 7:27A-3.2, 3.5, and 3.10, which establish the New Jersey Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Budget Trading Program.  The CO2 Budget Trading Program is New Jersey’s commitment to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a regional, cooperative program to cap and reduce CO2 emissions from fossil fuel fired units producing 25 or more megawatts of power in the participating states to address the significant challenge of climate change.

The adoption was published in the New Jersey Register on June 17, 2019.  The operative date of the new rules and amendments is June 11, 2019.  A copy of the Department’s adoption is available on the Department’s website at: https://www.nj.gov/dep/rules/adoptions.html and https://www.state.nj.us/dep/aqes/rggi.html as well as LexisNexis free public access to the New Jersey Register,  https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.lexisnexis.com_njoal&d=DwIFAg&c=4BTEw-1msHjOY4ITcFLmDM6JB8x6ZgbU2J24IH0HZLU&r=G2jsVVV4jFHeLEjPL09sH5Z1gSxJt54Oz5U9BS0lEidsmUHsZycJoAKJm7vit93B&m=R2uM3LiVNV5tQdBwElNdK6utpm1rEP8k50B5knCMltw&s=qL-wKUpoWVcWce1hThWUs-GilTRiSEJ-SaSqzZsVj7w&e=

Please note that consistent with newly adopted N.J.A.C. 7:27C-3.3, CO2 budget sources must be added to an operating permit by completing an application for a new, renewed, or modified operating permit.  The Department has developed “NJ03-APPLICATION FOR ADDING A CO2 BUDGET SOURCE IN OPERATING PERMIT,” which should be submitted along with the completed application for a new, renewed, or modified operating permit.  The new form may be downloaded from the Department’s website at https://www.state.nj.us/dep/aqes/rggi-who-is-regulated.html

Further information and additional forms related to the CO2 budget trading program compliance certification and compliance plans are also available on the Department’s website at https://www.state.nj.us/dep/aqes/rggi-who-is-regulated.html

The Department has developed two new listservs related to RGGI’s implementation – one specific to the RGGI regulated entities and the other for those interested in the development of the RGGI strategic funding plan.  You can join one or both of those listservs by submitting your email where indicated on the RGGI website at https://www.state.nj.us/dep/aqes/rggi.html.