New Jersey Senate Bill S3066

New Jersey 2024-2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/8/24
• Refer: 4/8/24

Caption

The "Healthy and Affordable Construction for Tomorrow Act."

Impact

The bill is poised to significantly alter New Jersey's construction landscape by disallowing fossil fuel combustion in designated new structures. This shift not only seeks to improve indoor air quality and mitigate health risks associated with pollutants from traditional natural gas combustion but also aims to lower utility costs for residents. Proponents argue that by transitioning to all-electric systems, residents could save up to 41% on utility bills cumulatively by 2030, while concurrently addressing the rising health concerns connected to air pollution caused by combustion in buildings.

Summary

Senate Bill S3066, known as the 'Healthy and Affordable Construction for Tomorrow Act,' mandates the amendment of the State Uniform Construction Code to prohibit the combustion of certain substances that exceed specific carbon dioxide emissions standards in newly constructed buildings. Specifically, it sets forth regulations that will apply to new buildings less than seven stories tall starting 12 months after enactment, and to all new buildings regardless of height 36 months post-enactment. The bill aims to promote electrification in construction, incentivizing the use of all-electric systems that lead to cleaner energy consumption and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

Contention

However, the enactment of S3066 is not without contention. Opponents raise concerns regarding the implications for municipalities that may wish to impose stricter standards or utilize fossil fuels in specific contexts, such as emergency services and certain commercial establishments. The bill does allow for exemptions regarding energy backup systems and specific facility types but insists that financial considerations alone cannot justify non-compliance with the electrification mandates. This has sparked debate about the balance of local control versus state regulation and the potential costs associated with retrofitting existing structures to meet these new requirements.