Urban Heat Island Mitigation Program

The Urban Heat Island Mitigation Program, established by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) in July 2025, is a targeted initiative aimed at reducing the effects of extreme heat in overburdened communities (OBCs) across New Jersey. The program supports the state’s broader environmental and energy equity goals, aligning with frameworks such as the 2019 State Energy Master Plan, the Community Energy Plans, and the Extreme Heat Resilience Action Plan. The program is administered by the Office of Clean Energy Equity (OCEE) and has a total budget of $5 million. It was launched in response to rising urban temperatures driven by climate change and urban development, particularly affecting historically underserved communities. Eligible applicants include overburdened municipalities (OBMs) and community-based organizations (CBOs). OBMs are municipalities where over 50% of the population resides in designated overburdened census blocks and meet additional socioeconomic criteria. The program is structured into three funding categories: Comprehensive Public Space UHI Interventions (Category 1), Cooling the Built Environment (Category 2), and Urban Microclimate Interventions (Category 3). Category 1 and 2 applicants must be OBMs, while Category 3 is open to CBOs. The first two categories focus on large-scale public space cooling strategies and energy-efficient building upgrades respectively, with funding up to $1 million and $500,000. Category 3 funds smaller, localized projects up to $50,000. Each category has distinct project scopes. Comprehensive interventions may include revitalization of parks, tree planting, and the installation of cool pavements. Built environment projects may involve cool or green roofs, weatherization, and battery storage systems. Microclimate interventions may include community gardens, shaded seating, and water features. Projects in Categories 1 and 3 must be located on land already deed restricted or accompanied by a plan to obtain deed restrictions. All applicants must submit through the NJBPU's SAGE portal and provide comprehensive details on proposed activities, expected outcomes, and community engagement strategies. Applications opened on October 28, 2025, and must be submitted by December 15, 2025, via the SAGE system. For CBOs, a signed letter of support from the municipality is required. Evaluation will consider completeness, alignment with program goals, and projected community impact. Successful applicants will enter a performance period of three years for larger awards and two years for smaller awards, with required quarterly financial and final performance reporting. Eligible costs include staff and consultant time, materials and installation for cooling infrastructure, and outreach expenses. Ineligible costs include unrelated construction and food for events. Use of contractors is permitted with clear roles and contracts. Additional support is provided via drop-in Q&A sessions and application guidance packets. Questions can be directed to [email protected]. This program is not currently listed as recurring, but its structure and intent suggest potential for future rounds. Awardees must report metrics related to energy savings, community reach, and sustainability. Results will be publicly shared to enhance transparency and inform future program refinements.

Ensure thorough community engagement planning and alignment with mitigation category goals.