Borough of Prospect Park, NJ

HISTORY - PROSPECT PARK'S COMMUNITY ENERGY PLAN


PROSPECT PARK BECOMES THE FIRST NJ MUNICIPALITY TO ADOPT COMMUNITY ENERGY PLAN UNDER THE NJ BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES AND SUSTAINABLE JERSEY CLEAN ENERGY GRANT PROGRAM

Borough Retained DMR Architects to Prepare Plan with $25,000 Grant

Prospect Park  becomes the FIRST municipality to adopt a Community Energy Plan through the NJ Board of Public Utility’s grant program in an effort to align with The State’s Energy Master Plan, the roadmap to reaching Governor Murphy’s goal of 100 percent clean energy by 2035.

            The borough used its $25,000 grant to retain DMR Architects to prepare the plan, which identifies more than two dozen initiatives that Prospect Park will implement within a five-year period, ultimately naming the Hasbrouck Heights-based firm as its planning consultant to help guide the implementation.

The initiatives include:

  • Installing renewable energy sources, energy storage, and public EV charging stations on municipal properties, and improving energy efficiency of municipal buildings;
  • Creating opportunities for community solar programs that allow the public to purchase solar energy from off-site sources, with an emphasis on availability and affordability for low- and moderate-income households;
  • Outreach campaigns to increase resident and business participation in incentive programs offered by the state, federal government and utilities like PSE&G to transition to electric vehicles, make energy efficient improvements and install solar and other forms of renewable energy;
  • Replace older borough fleet vehicles with newer, preferably electric alternatives, and adopt fuel efficient fleet vehicle management practices;
  • Make energy planning inclusive of low- and moderate-income and non-English speaking households;
  • Adopt zoning and regulatory language that permits renewable energy production and energy storage.
  • Borough-Wide LED Streetlight Conversion in partnership with PSE&G
In June 2022 NJBPU approved $820,000 in grants to 46 municipalities to create Community Energy Plans to combat climate change.  Prospect Park was one of only 24 designated as overburdened and eligible for $25,000.

HELPFUL RESOURCES:
Prospect Park CEP Presentation
- Prospect Park Community Energy Plan Report 
- Notice of Public Hearing for CEP Adoption