Bill Text: NJ A4819 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced

New Jersey Assembly Bill 4819 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Establishes goals and incentives for increased use of plug-in electric vehicles in NJ.*

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 29-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-01-13 - Substituted by S2252 (SCS) [A4819 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2018-A4819-Introduced.html

ASSEMBLY, No. 4819

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

218th LEGISLATURE

INTRODUCED DECEMBER 17, 2018

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman DANIEL R. BENSON

District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)

Assemblywoman NANCY J. PINKIN

District 18 (Middlesex)

Assemblyman JAMES J. KENNEDY

District 22 (Middlesex, Somerset and Union)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblyman Karabinchak, Assemblywomen Lopez and Jones

SYNOPSIS

Establishes goals, initiatives, and programs to encourage and support use of plug-in electric vehicles.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

As introduced.

An Act concerning the use of electric vehicles, and amending and supplementing various parts of the statutory law.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. (New section) The Legislature finds and declares that plug-in electric vehicle technology has improved significantly, for light duty vehicles in particular; that plug-in electric vehicles with longer ranges are now widely available at a lower cost and present a viable alternative to vehicles fueled by fossil fuels; that more plug-in electric vehicle makes and models will be introduced in the State motor vehicle market over the next several years; that vehicle electrification offers a wide range of benefits, such as improved air quality, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and savings in motor vehicle operating costs for vehicle owners; that increased use of plug-in electric vehicles can contribute significantly to the attainment of existing State air pollution and energy goals, including the objectives of the "Global Warming Response Act," P.L.2007, c.112 (C.26:2C-37 et seq.) and the State's Energy Master Plan; and that New Jersey is already committed to implementing the California Low Emission Vehicle Program pursuant to P.L.2003, c.266 (C.26:2C-8.15 et al.), and part of this program is a commitment to increasing the use of low emission vehicles and zero emission vehicles, including plug-in electric vehicles.

The Legislature further finds and declares that the State has not established goals for the use of plug-in electric vehicles or programs to encourage the use of these vehicles; that an important part of increasing the use of plug-in electric vehicles is the development of a Statewide plug-in electric vehicle charging infrastructure that supports the use of plug-in electric vehicles, as well as policies, regulations, and programs to support that development; that State agencies require clear direction to create and implement the necessary policies, regulations, programs, initiatives, and incentives; that the two major market barriers that limit the purchase of light duty plug-in electric vehicles by consumers are price and range anxiety, which is a concern on the part of the public that plug-in electric vehicles cannot be reliably operated over long distances because of a lack of convenient, publicly accessible charging infrastructure.

The Legislature therefore determines that it is in the public interest to establish goals for the increased use of plug-in electric vehicles, pursue attainment of those goals through the development of a Statewide plug-in electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and develop this infrastructure by establishing a Statewide electric vehicle charging infrastructure plan; that this plan shall be incorporated into the State Energy Master Plan and any subsequent updates to the State Energy Master Plan; that the State shall include State agencies, market stakeholders, and other subject matter experts in the development and establishment of the plan; and that the State shall further bolster the increased use of plug-in electric vehicles by providing rebates for the purchase of these vehicles, and maximize consumer awareness of the availability of rebates and public plug-in electric vehicle charging infrastructure through Statewide public education programs.

2. (New section) As used in sections 1 through 7 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill):

"Advanced mobility solution" means an alternative method for providing mobility to an entire community, through novel business models that change vehicle ownership and use, including, but not limited to, ride hailing services, car sharing services, fractional ownership and vehicle subscription services, autonomous vehicles, and transportation network companies.

"Board" means the Board of Public Utilities.

"Charger ready" means the pre-wiring of electrical infrastructure at a parking space, or set of parking spaces, to facilitate easy and cost-efficient future installation of electric vehicle service equipment, including, but not limited to, Level Two EVSE and DC Fast Charger, and a clearly defined process by which prospective users of vehicle chargers may request and benefit from installation of an appropriate EVSE at the pre-wired parking space;

"Charging location" means a publicly accessible parking space or set of parking spaces, with visible signage designating that the parking space or spaces are available for use by the public for charging plug-in electric vehicles.

"Community location" means a charging location that is not a corridor location, and that is established in a town center, commercial area, retail center, or other site, or near concentrations of multi-family dwellings, to provide vehicle charging services to local plug-in electric vehicle drivers near where they live or work.

"Corridor location" means a charging location located along a travel corridor roadway, or within two miles of that roadway, which is intended to provide access to vehicle charging services for long distance drivers and en-route vehicle charging services for local drivers.

"DC Fast Charger" means electric vehicle service equipment that provides at least 50 kilowatts of direct current electrical power for charging a plug-in electric vehicle through a standardized connector, and which is approved for installation for that purpose under the National Electric Code through Underwriters Laboratories Certification or an equivalent certifying organization.

"Department" means the Department of Environmental Protection.

"Electric vehicle service equipment" or "EVSE" means the equipment, including the cables, cords, conductors, connectors, couplers, enclosures, attachment plugs, power outlets, switches and controls, network interfaces, and point of sale equipment and associated apparatus designed and used for the purpose of transferring energy from the electric supply system to a plug-in electric vehicle. "EVSE" may deliver either alternating current or direct current electricity as determined by industry equipment standards.

"Essential public charging network" or "network" means the public charging infrastructure installed pursuant to section 10 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), as part of the Statewide initiative to encourage the plug-in electric vehicle market in the State, and which provides a basic level of Statewide public charging infrastructure sufficient to minimize range anxiety and meet other public charging needs.

"Industry equipment standards" means the electric vehicle charging equipment industry standards, including the CHAdeMO standard and the Society of Automotive Engineers Combined Charging Standard (CCS).

"Level One EVSE" means a supply of single phase 120 Vac electricity, presented as either a standard wall plug into which the charging cord provided with a plug-in electric vehicle can be connected, or an EVSE with a standard vehicle plug connector that complies with SAE J1772, or an equivalent standard for 120 Vac charging as may be adopted in the future and accepted by the board, and which is approved for installation for this purpose under the National Electric Code through Underwriters Laboratories Certification or an equivalent certifying organization.

"Level Two EVSE" means EVSE that provides a plug-in electric vehicle with single phase alternating current electrical power at 208-240 Vac, through a standardized plug connector that complies with SAE J1772 standards, or an equivalent wireless power transfer interface, or equivalent standards for 208-240 Vac charging as may be adopted in the future and accepted by the board, and which is approved for installation for this purpose under the National Electric Code through Underwriters Laboratories Certification or an equivalent certifying organization.

"Light duty vehicle" means any two-axle, four-wheel vehicle, designed primarily for passenger travel or light duty commercial use, and approved for travel on public roads. "Light duty vehicle" includes, but is not limited to, any vehicle commonly referred to as a car, minivan, sport utility vehicle, cross-over, or pick-up truck.

"Local government unit" means a county, municipality, or any board, commission, committee, authority or agency thereof that is subject to the provisions of the "Local Public Contracts Law," P.L.1971, c.198 (C.40A:11-1 et seq.), including a housing authority or redevelopment agency created or continued under the "Local Redevelopment and Housing Law," P.L.1992, c.79 (C.40A:12A-1 et seq.).

"Low-income, urban, or environmental justice community" means a community where at least half of the households have a household income that does not exceed 2.50 times the official federal poverty level based on family size, established and adjusted under the federal "Community Services Block Grant Act," 42 U.S.C. s.9902(2); is urban, as determined by the Department of Community Affairs, due to the population and development density in the community; or has been burdened with environmental justice issues, as determined by the Department of Environmental Protection, including, but not limited to, exposure to high levels of air pollution, close proximity to major industrial facilities or hazardous waste sites, or other environmental hazards.

"Owner or operator" means an entity that owns or operates EVSE locations or equipment for use by plug-in electric vehicle drivers, including an electric public utility, a site host, or a third-party provider.

"Plug-in electric vehicle" means a vehicle that has a battery or equivalent energy storage device that can be charged from an electricity supply external to the vehicle with an electric plug. "Plug-in electric vehicle" includes a plug-in hybrid vehicle. A plug-in electric vehicle may be a light duty, medium duty, or heavy duty vehicle.

"Plug-in hybrid vehicle" means a vehicle that can be charged from a source of electricity external to the vehicle through an electric plug, but is not exclusively powered by electricity.

"Range anxiety" means consumer concerns that public electric charging infrastructure may not be widely available, resulting in fewer electric vehicle purchases due to a perceived risk that a plug-in electric vehicle driver may be stranded with a fully discharged battery while on the road with no recharging source.

"Routine charging" means vehicle charging that takes place where a vehicle is parked for a long period of time, such as at the owner's residence overnight, a hotel, or a workplace during work hours, and which provides the primary and most common form of vehicle charging.

"Site host" means the entity with authority to host EVSE and network services at a given location in the State, proposing to serve as a charging location for use by the public or other authorized users.

"Third-party provider" means a non-utility entity that owns or provides EVSE or related equipment, or provides related services for the development, financing, design, installation, and operation of charging locations and the associated EVSE.

"Travel corridor" means the subset of heavily used public roads designated by the Electric Vehicle Working Group pursuant to section 4 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) for inclusion in the essential public charging network established pursuant to section 10 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), including the Garden State Parkway, the New Jersey Turnpike, the Atlantic City Expressway, federal interstate highways, and the subset of federal or State roads which collectively support the majority of long distance travel through and within the State as well as the majority of daily travel by local drivers.

3. (New section) a. There are established the following State goals for the use of plug-in electric vehicles and the development of plug-in electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the State to support that use:

(1) at least 330,000 of the registered light duty vehicles in the State shall be plug-in electric vehicles by December 31, 2025;

(2) at least 2,000,000 of the registered light duty vehicles in the State shall be plug-in electric vehicles by December 31, 2035;

(3) at least 90 percent of all new light duty vehicles sold in the State shall be plug-in electric vehicles by December 31, 2040;

(4) (a) By December 31, 2021, at least 600 DC Fast Chargers shall be available for public use at no less than 300 charging locations in the State, in addition to any charging locations or EVSE already in place as of January 1, 2019; and (b) at least 100 of the 300 or more charging locations shall be at travel corridor locations, equipped with at least two DC Fast Chargers per location, each capable of providing at least 150 kilowatts of charging power, and no more than 25 miles between the charging locations; and (c) at least 200 of the 300 or more charging locations shall be community locations, equipped with at least two DC Fast Chargers per location, each capable of providing at least 50 kilowatts of charging power or more, and 150 kilowatts or more where feasible; and

(5) By December 31, 2021, at least 1000 Level Two chargers shall be available for public use across the State, and after initial installation, those EVSE may be upgraded to higher power or DC Fast Chargers as appropriate by the owner or operator; and

(6) (a) By December 31, 2025, 25 percent of all multi-family residential properties in the State shall be equipped with electric vehicle charging equipment for the routine charging of electric vehicles by residents through a combination of Level One EVSE, Level Two EVSE, or charger ready parking spaces, which collectively shall serve a percentage of resident parking spaces equal to the percentage of light duty vehicles registered in the State that are plug-in electric vehicles at the end of the preceding calendar year, or the percentage of vehicles owned by residents that are plug-in electric vehicles, whichever is higher, and (b) by December 31, 2030, 50 percent of all multi-family properties shall be equipped for electric vehicle charging as described in subparagraph (a) of this paragraph;

(7) (a) By December 31, 2025, 25 percent of all overnight lodging establishments shall be equipped with electric vehicle charging equipment for routine electric vehicle charging by guests of the establishment by providing Level Two EVSE, which collectively shall serve a percentage of the guest parking spaces equal to the percentage of light duty vehicles registered in the State that are plug-in electric vehicles at the end of the preceding calendar year, and (b) by December 31, 2030, 50 percent of all overnight lodging establishments shall be equipped for electric vehicle charging as described in subparagraph (a) of this paragraph;

(8) (a) By December 31, 2025, 25 percent of all places of employment in the State shall provide at least two dedicated parking spaces and two charging plugs for either Level One or Level Two EVSE to their employees for routine electric vehicle charging on or near the property, and (b) by December 31, 2030, 50 percent of all places of employment in the State shall provide parking spaces and electric vehicle charging equipment as described in subparagraph (a) of this paragraph;

(9) (a) By December 31, 2025, at least 40 percent of State-owned non-emergency light duty vehicles shall be plug-in electric vehicles, and (b) by December 31, 2035 and thereafter, 100 percent of State-owned non-emergency light duty vehicles shall be plug-in electric vehicles; and

(10) (a) By the end of calendar year 2019, at least 5 percent of the new bus purchases made by the New Jersey Transit Corporation shall be plug-in electric vehicles, and (b) the percentage of plug-in electric vehicle purchases shall increase to 10 percent in 2020, 20 percent in 2021, 40 percent in 2022, 60 percent in 2023, 80 percent in 2024, and 100 percent in 2025 and thereafter, with vehicle electrification prioritized for low-income, urban, or environmental justice communities; and

(11) By December 31, 2020, other benchmarks shall be established for vehicle electrification and infrastructure development that address medium-duty and heavy-duty on-road diesel vehicles and associated charging infrastructure, similar to the State goals for light duty vehicles and consistent with the technology and electric vehicle markets for those vehicle types.

b. No later than January 1, 2020, and every five years thereafter, until December 31, 2040, the Department of Environmental Protection shall prepare and submit to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature, a report that:

(1) assesses the current state of the plug-in electric vehicle market in New Jersey;

(2) measures the State's progress towards the goals established in subsection a. of this section;

(3) identifies barriers to the achievement of the goals; and

(4) makes recommendations for legislative or regulatory action to address the barriers.

4. (New section) a. There is established in the Department of Environmental Protection the Electric Vehicle Working Group. The working group shall develop a Statewide Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Plan for the long-term development and installation of plug-in electric vehicle charging infrastructure of all types across the State, and monitor its implementation and its effectiveness in advancing the State goals for electric vehicle use established pursuant to section 3 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

b. The working group shall consist of 19 members as follows:

(1) the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, the President of the Board of Public Utilities, the Commissioner of Transportation, the Executive Director of the New Jersey Transit Corporation, the Executive Director of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, the Executive Director of the South Jersey Transportation Authority, the Commissioner of Community Affairs, the Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the Chief Executive Officer of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, and the Director of the Division of Rate Counsel in, but not of, the Department of the Treasury, who shall serve ex officio, or their respective designees; and

(2) the following public members, appointed by the Governor:

(a) one representative of a stakeholder group representing the interests of the plug-in electric vehicle market in New Jersey;

(b) three representatives each representing a different electric public utility in the State;

(d) one representative of a third-party provider of electric vehicle charging locations or charging equipment;

(e) two representatives with appropriate expertise in plug-in electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, or transportation corridors, one of whom shall be recommended to the Governor by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection and one of whom shall be recommended to the Governor by the President of the Board of Public Utilities; and

(f) one representative of local governments in the State.

c. All appointments to the working group shall be made no later than 90 days after the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill). The term of office of each public member shall be five years. Each public member shall serve until a successor has been appointed and qualified, and vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments for the remainder of the unexpired term. A public member is eligible for reappointment to the working group. The members of the working group shall serve without compensation, but shall be eligible for necessary and reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available for the working group's purposes.

d. The working group shall organize as soon as practicable following the appointment of its members and shall select a chairperson and a vice-chairperson from among its members, as well as a secretary who need not be a member of the working group. A majority of the membership of the working group shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of working group business. The working group may meet and hold hearings at the place or places the working group designates.

The working group shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any State, county, or municipal department, board, bureau, commission, or agency as the working group may require and as may be available to the working group for its purposes.

e. Within 90 days after organization, the working group shall develop a public education program to be implemented by the Department of Environmental Protection to educate consumers about the availability and benefits of plug-in electric vehicles in New Jersey, public vehicle charging infrastructure, programs or policies that provide incentives for the use of plug-in electric vehicles, and the State goals set forth in section 3 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

f. (1) Within 180 days after organization, the working group, in consultation with the Department of Transportation, the New Jersey Transit Corporation, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, the South Jersey Transportation Authority, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, shall designate the travel corridors to be integrated into, and serviced by, the essential public charging network, established pursuant to section 10 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill). Upon designation of the travel corridors, the working group shall notify the necessary entities for implementation of the essential public charging network and compliance with the requirements of section 10 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

(2) The working group may from time to time include additional public roads in the essential public charging network as necessary to achieve the density of public charging locations sufficient to reduce range anxiety and provide efficient and effective access to public electric vehicle servicing equipment.

g. No later than one year after its first organizational meeting, the working group shall publish the Statewide Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Plan. The working group shall annually update the plan in accordance with the information provided by the Department of Environmental Protection in the reports and plug-in electric vehicle market updates issued pursuant to subsection b. of section 3 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

h. The working group shall incorporate into the Statewide Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Plan:

(1) Estimates of the quantity and types of electric vehicle charging equipment and infrastructure required to be installed through calendar year 2035 to achieve the plug-in electric vehicle goals established in section 3 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), and a schedule for installation of that charging equipment and infrastructure, including but not limited to, public DC fast chargers, Level Two EVSE, workplace charging facilities, overnight charging facilities at overnight lodging establishments, fleet charging infrastructure of various types, residential charging for single family homes, and residential charging for multi-family homes;

(2) Strategies for creating general market conditions necessary for long-term development of public electric vehicle charging infrastructure that fully address range anxiety, meet routine charging needs, ensure attainment of the goals established in P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), and establish minimum standards for equitable, reliable, and convenient access to highly visible electric vehicle charging infrastructure of all types;

(3) Methods for monitoring and compiling data on Statewide plug-in electric vehicle purchases, EVSE use, the percentage of Statewide electric vehicle miles traveled, utility distribution system impacts, and other statistics for assessing plug-in electric vehicle adoption and developing and maintaining effective charging infrastructure;

(4) Guidelines to ensure that infrastructure is being made available across all socioeconomic and geographic segments of the State, and programs that support the vehicle electrification needs for low-income, urban, or environmental justice communities, including electrified public transportation and innovative electrified advanced mobility solutions;

(5) Recommended policies, regulations, programs, and other initiatives that ensure responsible integration of plug-in electric vehicle charging infrastructure with the electric gird, and which maximize the beneficial impact of that infrastructure and vehicle charging for the plug-in electric vehicle market and utility ratepayers;

(6) Recommended policies, regulations, programs, or other initiatives that may be taken by State agencies, the public electric utilities, and other organizations or market participants to achieve the long-term success of the goals established in P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill);

(7) Statewide consumer awareness campaigns that highlight the availability of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the State, with a specific focus on addressing consumer concerns about range anxiety and the availability of public charging infrastructure, to be implemented by the government entities represented in the working group; and

(8) Updates on the implementation of the essential public charging network pursuant to sections 10 through 14 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) and the Light Duty Plug-in Vehicle Rebate Program pursuant to sections 15 through 20 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

i. The working group shall coordinate the development and publication of the Statewide Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Plan with development and revision of the State Energy Master Plan, incorporating relevant provisions to ensure that implementation of the plans are consistent.

j. (1) The working group shall also study, develop, and identify needs, opportunities, and strategies for expanding electrification of vehicles beyond private ownership of light duty plug-in electric vehicles, and to provide funding and programs to:

(a) ensure equitable participation in vehicle electrification benefits and programs by low-income, urban, or environmental justice communities and other communities that suffer from deficient mobility options and disproportionate negative environmental impacts;

(b) ensure the development of electric advanced mobility solutions and other transportation alternatives that serve those communities; and

(c) expand the electrification of the wide range of heavy duty and medium duty vehicles typically powered by diesel fuel, that may also benefit from electrification, including, but not limited to, public buses, medium and heavy duty trucks, drayage equipment, and other off-road transportation, with particular focus on the use of these vehicles and equipment at and around New Jersey ports.

(2) The working group may develop any other programs to further the use of electric vehicles in the State and shall incorporate its findings and recommendations into its annual reports.

k. The working group shall issue a final report on the Statewide Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Plan during the calendar year 2035 and shall dissolve 30 days after the final report is issued.

l. After dissolution of the working group, the Department of Environmental Protection shall update and implement the Statewide Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Plan.

5. (New section) The Department of Environmental Protection shall adopt, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations as may be necessary for the development and installation of plug-in electric vehicle charging infrastructure to achieve the goals set forth in section 3 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) and for implementation of any initiatives and programs established pursuant to P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

6. (New section) The Department of Community Affairs shall adopt, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations as may be necessary to achieve the goals set forth in section 3 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) and to implement the programs established pursuant to P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), including:

a. new policies, guidelines, and regulations affecting municipalities, revision of building codes, standards, permitting, and other processes or procedures related to electric vehicle charging infrastructure of all types, in all impacted building types that would facilitate development of routine charging infrastructure in a variety of settings; and

b. new programs, procedures, rules and regulations, and guidelines that would facilitate development of vehicle charging infrastructure of all types by local government units in the State, including issuance of formal guidance that would allow local government units to utilize the competitive contracting provisions of the "Local Public Contracts Law," P.L.1971, c.198 (C.40A:11-1 et seq.), in order to partner with private parties for the design, permitting, financing, installation, operation, and management of all EVSE installations; and

c. any new programs, procedures, rules and regulations, and guidelines that would increase the use of plug-in electric vehicles and expand the number of EVSE installations available for the public use.

7. (New section) The Department of Transportation, in consultation with the New Jersey Transit Corporation, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, the South Jersey Transportation Authority, and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, shall adopt, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations as may be necessary for the development and installation of infrastructure to achieve the goals set forth in section 3 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) and for implementation of programs established pursuant to P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

8. (New section) As used in sections 8 through 20 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill):

"Board" means the Board of Public Utilities.

"Charger ready" means the pre-wiring of electrical infrastructure at a parking space, or set of parking spaces, to facilitate easy and cost-efficient future installation of electric vehicle service equipment, including, but not limited to, Level Two EVSE, and a clearly defined process by which prospective users of vehicle chargers may request and benefit from installation of an appropriate EVSE at the pre-wired parking space;

"Department" means the Department of Environmental Protection.

"Eligible recipient" means any purchaser of an eligible vehicle who did not receive the applicable electric vehicle rebate at the time of purchase as part of a reduction of the eligible vehicle's purchase price, or any seller of an eligible vehicle who has disbursed the electric vehicle rebate pursuant to P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) to a purchaser at the time of sale through a pass-through reduction in the sale price.

"Eligible vehicle" means a new light duty plug-in electric vehicle, with an MSRP of $55,000 or less, purchased after the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

"Essential public charging network" or "network" means the public charging infrastructure installed pursuant to section 9 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), as part of the Statewide initiative to encourage the plug-in electric vehicle market in the State, and which provides a basic level of Statewide public charging infrastructure sufficient to minimize range anxiety and meet other public charging needs.

"Light Duty Plug-in Electric Vehicle Rebate Program" or "rebate program" means the program established pursuant to section 14 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) to encourage the purchase of light duty plug-in electric vehicles.

"Managed charging" means policies, programs, regulations, technologies, specially designed rates or tariffs, or other methods that influence or control when or how vehicle charging takes place in order to minimize harmful impacts to the electric distribution system or the electric transmission system while maximizing electric vehicle charging benefits.

"MSRP" means the published manufacturer's suggested retail price, as set by a vehicle's manufacturer, at the time of sale. "Owner or operator" means an entity that owns or operates EVSE locations or equipment for use by plug-in electric vehicle drivers, including an electric public utility, a site host, or a third-party provider.

"Plug-in Electric Vehicle Rebate Fund" or "fund" means a non-lapsing account established to fund rebate disbursements under the Light Duty Plug-in Electric Vehicle Rebate Program, established pursuant to section 16 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

"Plug-in hybrid vehicle" means a vehicle that can be charged from a source of electricity external to the vehicle through an electric plug, but is not exclusively powered by electricity.

"Rebate disbursement" means the payment of an electric vehicle rebate, established by the Board of Public Utilities pursuant to section 14 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), to an eligible recipient.

"Seller of an eligible vehicle" means an entity that sells an eligible vehicle to a consumer or fleet owner in the State, and may include an automobile dealership, third-party financing entity, manufacturer selling directly to the public, or any other entity selling motor vehicles to consumers in the State.

"Travel corridor" means the subset of heavily used public roads designated by the Electric Vehicle Working Group pursuant to section 4 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) for inclusion in the essential public charging network established pursuant to section 9 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), including the Garden State Parkway, the New Jersey Turnpike, the Atlantic City Expressway, federal interstate highways, and the subset of federal or State roads which collectively support the majority of long distance travel through and within the State as well as the majority of daily travel by local drivers.

9. (New section) a. Within 90 days after the designation of travel corridors by the Electric Vehicle Working Group pursuant to paragraph (1) of subsection f. of section 4 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), the Board of Public Utilities, in cooperation with the electric public utilities in the State, the Department of Transportation, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, and the South Jersey Transportation Authority, shall develop the essential public charging network, to be implemented by the electric public utilities pursuant to subsection b. of this section and section 10 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill). The essential public charging network shall:

(1) provide sufficient public charging infrastructure to support a significant expansion in the use of plug-in electric vehicles in the State and consumer confidence in using these vehicles;

(2) integrate with the electric distribution system and the electric transmission system; and

(3) provide a level of public charging infrastructure sufficient to minimize consumer range anxiety.

b. By December 31, 2021 or as soon thereafter as practicable, the board shall require electric public utilities, through contracts with third-party providers and site hosts in their respective service territories, to implement the charging network Statewide, collectively providing, at a minimum, and in addition to any electric vehicle service equipment in place on or before January 1, 2018:

(1) 100 DC Fast Charger locations at corridor locations equipped with at least two DC Fast Chargers per location, each capable of providing at least 150 kilowatts of power, with no more than 25 miles between locations wherever feasible;

(2) 200 DC Fast Charger locations at community locations equipped with at least two DC Fast Chargers per location, each capable of providing at least 50 kilowatts of power and up to at least 150 kilowatts wherever feasible; and

(3) 1000 publicly accessible Level Two EVSE, which after the initial installation may be upgraded to DC Fast Chargers or higher power levels as deemed appropriate by the owner or operator of the EVSE at the network location.

The provisions of this subsection shall not preclude the installation of additional EVSE at any network location, or a Level Two EVSE or DC Fast Charger of 50 KW or above, as considered appropriate by the owner or operator of the EVSE at the network location.

c. (1) All network DC Fast Chargers shall provide at least two plug types, compliant with the industry equipment standards as defined at the time of installation, and other additional standards as may be introduced based on technology improvements or changes in applicable technical standards and approved for inclusion by the board.

(2) All network equipment and infrastructure shall be equally accessible by all plug-in electric vehicles, and the operators thereof, and shall be available for use by the public without unreasonable commercial or technical restrictions.

(3) All network charging locations shall be highly visible along public roadways, with standardized signage easily visible on roadways, and the locations shall be posted on line in a manner that makes them easy to identify and locate.

(4) All network infrastructure development plans shall make use of design innovations, technologies, and other methods to:

(a) minimize harmful impact on the electric grid wherever needed and the integration and operation costs; and

(b) maximize the beneficial impact vehicle charging and charging infrastructure may have on the electric grid.

10. (New section) a. No later than one year after the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), each electric public utility in the State shall submit to the board a proposed plan for the construction and long-term operation of the essential public charging network within its service territory. The proposed charging network plan shall:

(1) establish a process and timeframe for identifying site hosts, third-party providers, and potential locations for the DC Fast Chargers at corridor locations and community locations, and for the publicly accessible Level Two EVSE required to be installed pursuant to paragraph (2) of subsection b. of section 9 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill);

(2) outline the terms of the agreements and contracts to be entered into by the electric public utility and each of the site hosts and third-party providers in order to install the components of the network required pursuant to subsection b. of section 9 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) by December 31, 2021, which may include, pending board approval, a variety of approaches for owning and operating the network, including (a) site host owned and operated EVSE, (b) third party provider or electric public utility owned and operated EVSE, or (c) mixed arrangements whereby multiple entities are involved in owning and operating the locations and EVSE;

(3) provide cost estimates for the installation and operation of the required network components;

(4) provide methods for the development, installation, and operation of the network locations, EVSE, and electrical infrastructure and for financing its installation and operation, including, but not necessarily limited to (a) financing plans, financial incentives, new rate designs, tariffs, and how the costs of any programs offered in the proposal shall be recovered fully and in a timely fashion through a separate utility rate clause as approved by the board, (b) partnership programs with local government units or other parties, managed charging or demand response programs, streamlined processes and programs to facilitate interconnection, (c) marketing and other programs to build consumer awareness, and (d) technology trials or other programs that support the goals of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

b. The board may determine any electric public utility proposed charging network plan submitted within 18 months prior to the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) fulfills the requirements of subsection a. of this section if the board determines the proposed charging network plan is consistent with the goals and requirements of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill). The board shall make the determination no later than 90 days after the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) and shall notify the electric public utility immediately:

(1) if the proposed charging network plan is determined to be inconsistent with the goals and requirements of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill); and

(2) the date by which the electric public utility shall be required to submit a new proposed charging network plan in compliance with this section.

c. No later than 180 days after receipt of a proposed charging network plan pursuant to subsection a. or b. of this section, the board shall review and issue a determination approving, rejecting, or approving with modifications the proposed charging network plan. The board shall apply the following criteria for this review and determination:

(1) The proposed charging network plan is consistent with, and supports attaining the goals of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill);

(2) The expenditures estimated and set forth in the proposed charging network plan are reasonable for attaining the goals of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill); and

(3) The proposed charging network plan is likely to accomplish the installation of the required elements of the network in a timely manner.

d. The board order approving, or approving with modifications, an electric public utility's proposed charging network plan shall provide for and approve full and timely recovery through a separate utility rate clause covering all reasonable costs, which may be included in the electric public utility's rate base as either a capital or regulatory asset. The electric public utility shall implement its charging network plan by using funding sources other than recovering electric public utility expenditures through customer rates whenever feasible.

e. (1) Upon approval of a charging network plan pursuant to this section, the electric public utility shall implement the charging network plan, and may enter into any necessary agreements or contracts with site hosts or third-party providers.

(2) An electric public utility charging network plan that provides for network locations developed by site hosts or third-party providers shall;

(a) use a competitive process, wherever feasible, to engage site hosts or third-party providers, as applicable, in (i) developing projects, (ii) providing EVSE and services, and (iii) owning and operating the locations and EVSE for public use;

(b) leverage private investment wherever possible;

(d) optimize net benefit for ratepayers;

(e) avoid unfair limits on the involvement of non-utility market participants;

(f) maximize public benefit by (i) ensuring universal access, (ii) encouraging the use of open standards, (iii) promoting interoperability and network roaming, (iv) providing a consistent consumer experience, and (v) provide for appropriate consideration of future infrastructure needs; and

(g) promote development of a competitive market for continued growth in public charging infrastructure beyond the network.

f. An electric public utility charging network plan that provides for utility ownership and operation of locations or EVSE as part of the network, as approved by the board, shall:

(1) use a competitive process to engage site hosts or third-party providers for EVSE and services, as applicable;

(2) provide customer choice in equipment;

(3) optimize net benefit for ratepayers;

(4) avoid unfair limits on the involvement of non-utility market participants; and

(5) maximize public benefit by (a) ensuring universal access, (b) encouraging the use of open standards, (c) promoting interoperability and network roaming, and providing a consistent consumer experience, (d) providing for appropriate consideration of future infrastructure needs, and (e) promoting development of a competitive market for continued growth in public charging infrastructure beyond the network.

g. The electric public utilities shall propose tariffs, incentive programs, or other methods that ensure electricity costs for public charging facilities are not restrictive during early market conditions when utilization is low, as determined by the board, including consideration of demand charge impacts, and the costs of such tariffs, programs, or methods shall be recovered fully and in a timely fashion through a separate utility rate clause as approved by the board. The tariffs, programs, or other methods may be approved for EVSE that are part of the network, or for any other EVSE that is available for public use and which meets any additional requirements deemed necessary by the board.

h. Electric public utilities may propose other programs, incentives, tariffs, or initiatives to support the development of vehicle charging infrastructure of all types, consistent with the goals of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), including but not limited to:

(1) workplace EVSE programs for use by employees;

(2) EVSE programs for lodging establishments for use by overnight guests;

(3) EVSE programs for residential use in multi-family and single-family housing;

(4) EVSE for fleet operators;

(5) EVSE for NJ Transit Corporation;

(6) marketing and consumer awareness campaigns;

(7) innovative market or technology trials;

(8) solutions addressing demand charge implications on electricity costs;

(9) programs that facilitate renewable energy and electricity storage integration;

(10) programs that encourage vehicle charging at optimal times of day; and

(11) programs or technology that enable interactive use of plug-in electric vehicles as distributed energy resources that support and enhance operation of the public grid through two-way exchanges of electricity.

i. Unless otherwise specifically provided pursuant to Title 48 of the Revised Statutes or any other federal or State law, an entity owning, controlling, operating, or managing an electric vehicle charging station shall not be deemed an electric public utility solely because of that ownership, control, operation, or management. The charging of an electric vehicle shall be deemed a service and not a sale of electricity by an electric power supplier or basic generation service provider pursuant to P.L.1999, c.23 (C.48:3-49 et al.).

11. (New section) a. The New Jersey Turnpike Authority shall, consistent with a charging network plan approved by the board pursuant to section 9 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill):

(1) By December 31, 2021, or as soon thereafter as practicable, establish publicly accessible EVSE parking spaces for the exclusive use by plug-in electric vehicles at each of the service areas along the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway;

(2) Provide at least two parking spaces for network DC Fast Chargers with supporting EVSE at each location by December 31, 2021, and at least eight spaces for DC Fast Chargers at each location that are charger ready with the electrical infrastructure required to support future DC Fast Charger installations. The allocation of these spaces shall not preclude the installation of EVSE in addition to those required for the network, as the New Jersey Turnpike Authority determines to be beneficial to the increased use of electric vehicles in the State;

(3) Monitor usage of all EVSE at all of the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway service areas, and expand the EVSE equipment and number of spaces served by EVSE as needed to ensure reliable and convenient use by the public;

(4) Pursue public-private partnerships for the purpose of facilitating the development, funding, and operation of the public electric vehicle charging infrastructure required pursuant to P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill); and

(5) Charge electric vehicle drivers using the EVSE a reasonable amount to recover costs associated with installation and operation of EVSE for public use, either directly, or through third parties that have been contracted to provide vehicle charging services at each service area.

b. For EVSE located on State-owned properties, or on properties owned or controlled by local government units, and which are owned or operated by a third party, charges for service may include a fee that is transferable to the State agency or local government unit as a concession pursuant to a written agreement between the owner or operator and the State agency or local government unit.

12. (New section) a. The South Jersey Transportation Authority shall, consistent with a charging network plan approved by the board pursuant to section 9 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill):

(2) Provide at least two parking spaces for network DC Fast Chargers with supporting EVSE at each location by December 31, 2021, and at least eight spaces for DC Fast Chargers at each location that are charger ready with the electrical infrastructure required to support future DC Fast Charger installations. The allocation of these spaces shall not preclude the installation of EVSE in addition to those required for the network, as the South Jersey Transportation Authority determines to be beneficial to the increased use of electric vehicles in the State;

(3) Monitor usage of all EVSE at all of the Atlantic City Expressway service areas, and expand the EVSE equipment and number of spaces served by EVSE as needed to ensure reliable and convenient use by the public;

b. For EVSE located on State agency-owned properties, or on properties owned or controlled by local government units, and which are owned or operated by a third party, charges for service may include a fee that is transferable to the State agency or local government unit as a concession pursuant to a written agreement between the owner or operator and the State agency or local government unit.

13. (New section) a. The Department of Transportation shall, consistent with a charging network plan approved by the board pursuant to section 9 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill):

(1) By December 31, 2021, or as soon thereafter as practicable, establish publicly accessible EVSE parking spaces at rest areas along Interstate highways under its jurisdiction;

(2) In cooperation and consultation with the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and the South Jersey Transportation Authority, and other State and local authorities as required, shall establish consistent and effective signage along the travel corridors and local roadways in the State and at EVSE locations to inform the public of EVSE locations, provide guidance for reaching the publicly accessible charging locations, and indicate the type of EVSE available at the location. The signage shall indicate the availability of DC Fast Chargers wherever they are available;

(3) Coordinate with federal authorities to (a) ensure the use of standardized signage indicating the availability of nearby EVSE along federal interstate highways, similar to current signage in use regarding fuel and other local amenities, and (b) negotiate any necessary agreements or contracts to facilitate the installation of EVSE at charging locations in the State along federal interstate highways and the charging of electric vehicle drivers using the EVSE a reasonable amount to recover New Jersey electric public utility costs associated with installation and operation of EVSE for public use, either directly, or through third parties that have been contracted to provide vehicle charging services at each service area.

14. (New section) a. No later than 90 days after the effective date of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), the Board of Public Utilities, in cooperation with the State Treasurer and the Department of Environmental Protection, shall establish and implement a "Light Duty Plug-in Electric Vehicle Rebate Program" for the purpose of encouraging the purchase of light duty plug-in electric vehicles.

b. The board shall implement the rebate program until June 30th of the 10th year after the rebate program begins, or after $300,000,000 in rebate disbursements have been paid from the fund, whichever occurs first.

c. (1) The board shall establish the electric vehicle rebate as a one-time payment to the purchaser of a new light duty plug-in electric vehicle in an amount set and calculated by the department as equal to at least $25 per mile of the eligible vehicle's electric power range as certified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and determined by the Department of Environmental Protection, up to a maximum of $5,000 per eligible vehicle.

(2) The board, in consultation with the department, shall determine the electric vehicle rebate amount consistent with the provisions of this section for all eligible vehicles available for sale in the State and shall publish the schedule of rebate amounts for all eligible vehicles quarterly.

(3) The board may adjust the rebate amount provided in paragraph (1) of this subsection as necessary to achieve or sustain the State's electric vehicle goals established pursuant to section 3 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), provided that electric vehicle rebate amounts shall not be not changed more frequently than once per aggregate disbursement of $100,000,000 from the "Plug-in Electric Vehicle Rebate Fund," established pursuant to section 16 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

(4) The board may establish limits on the number of electric vehicle rebates issued to a purchaser as necessary.

d. The board shall monitor the rebate disbursements, and shall annually reassess the design and implementation of the rebate program. Provided the board's action does not violate the provisions of subsection c. of this section, the board may:

(1) revise the rebate program, any aspect of the rebates, or the related implementation procedures or processes; and

(2) establish additional rebates consistent with the goals of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

e. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a light duty plug-in hybrid vehicle shall not qualify for a rebate under the "Light Duty Plug-in Electric Vehicle Rebate Program" after December 31, 2022. An eligible recipient seeking a rebate for a light duty plug-in hybrid vehicle shall file an application for the rebate pursuant to section 17 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) on or before December 31, 2022.

f. The board, in cooperation and consultation with the Electric Vehicle Working Group established pursuant to section 4 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), shall develop and implement a Statewide public education program to publicize the availability of the electric vehicle rebates pursuant to the rebate program and shall coordinate with motor vehicle dealerships, electric public utilities, plug-in electric vehicle manufacturers doing business in the State, and other relevant stakeholder organizations to ensure public awareness of the rebate program.

15. (New section) a. The seller of an eligible vehicle shall offer the electric vehicle rebate in conjunction with, and in addition to, any other incentive offered by the seller of the eligible vehicle.

b. A vehicle dealership, at its discretion, may provide a purchaser the option to have the amount of the electric vehicle rebate deducted from the final negotiated and agreed upon sale price of the eligible vehicle, in which case the full amount of the electric vehicle rebate shall be passed through to the purchaser in full and payment thereof shall be effective immediately at the time of the final sale and transfer of the eligible vehicle to the purchaser.

c. If the vehicle dealership does not deduct the amount of the electric vehicle rebate from the final negotiated and agreed upon sale price of the eligible vehicle, or the purchaser does not receive the electric vehicle rebate at the time of purchase, the purchaser may apply directly to the State Treasurer, pursuant to section 17 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), to receive any applicable rebate. The vehicle dealership shall provide to those purchasers at the time of the final sale and transfer of the ownership of the eligible vehicle all the paperwork and transaction-related documentation required by the State Treasurer pursuant to section 17 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) for the purchaser to apply for the electric vehicle rebate.

d. The Board of Public Utilities shall provide a website, accessible by the public, that provides up-to-date information about rebate availability, and a mechanism for securing for a specified, limited time rebate commitment for an eligible vehicle purchase.

e. The board shall require each seller of a new plug-in electric vehicle to notify the board, upon the final sale and transfer of vehicle to a purchaser, the following information regarding each plug-in electric vehicle sold:

(1) the vehicle's make, model, and battery size; and

(2) the physical address of the location where the vehicle is expected to typically reside overnight.

f. The board shall provide on a quarterly basis to any electric public utility operating in the State the information required and collected pursuant to subsection e. of this section in order to facilitate the appropriate planning for, and reinforcement of, electricity distribution and infrastructure affected by vehicle charging requirements.

16. (New section) a. There is established in the Department of the Treasury a special, nonlapsing fund to be known as the "Plug-in Electric Vehicle Rebate Fund," also referred to as "the fund." The fund shall be administered by the State Treasurer and shall be credited with:

(1) moneys deposited by the Board of Public Utilities pursuant to this subsection for the purposes of the fund;

(2) moneys as are appropriated by the Legislature; and

(3) any return on investment of moneys deposited in the fund.

The board may deposit into the fund moneys received from the societal benefits charge established pursuant to section 11 of P.L.1999, c.23 (C.48:3-60), moneys made available to the board pursuant to the implementation of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and P.L.2007, c.340 (C.26:2C-45 et seq.), and moneys available from other funding sources as determined by the board.

b. Moneys in the fund may be used by the Department of the Treasury solely for authorized rebate disbursements to eligible recipients. The moneys in the fund shall not be used for any administrative costs incurred by the Board of Public Utilities, the Department of Environmental Protection, or the State Treasurer to implement P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

c. Notwithstanding the provisions of the "Local Budget Law," N.J.S.40A:4-1 et seq., to the contrary, a county, municipality, or an authority as that term is defined in section 3 of P.L.1983, c.313 (C.40A:5A-3) required to comply with the provisions of P.L.2005, c.219 (C.26:2C-8.26 et al.) may anticipate in its annual budget, or any amendments or supplements thereto, those sums to be reimbursed from the fund for the purchase of new light duty plug-in electric vehicles by the county, municipality, or authority. For the purposes of subsection 1. of section 3 of P.L.1976, c.68 (C.40A:4-45.3) and subsection g. of section 4 of P.L.1976, c.68 (C.40A:4-45.4), any rebate provided pursuant to P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall be considered an amount to be received from State funds in disbursement for local expenditures and therefore exempt from the limitation on local budgets imposed pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1976, c.68 (C.40A:4-45.2).

17. (New section) a. An eligible recipient shall file an application for an electric vehicle rebate with the Department of the Treasury on a form to be developed by the State Treasurer and the board, and with any documentation required by the State Treasurer pursuant to subsection b. of this section. Neither the State Treasurer nor the board may charge an application fee.

b. Moneys in the fund shall be allocated and used to provide rebate disbursements in the manner provided in this section and section 16 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill). The State Treasurer, in consultation with the board and the department, shall determine the applicability and the calculation of an electric vehicle rebate in accordance with section 14 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill). The State Treasurer may require an eligible recipient to submit any documentation the State Treasurer determines necessary, including, but not limited to, an invoice of sale indicating the applicable purchase price, the amount of rebate provided to the purchaser of an eligible vehicle, and the final cost of the vehicle after the rebate was deducted.

c. Upon a determination that an application meets all established criteria for a rebate disbursement from the fund, the State Treasurer shall approve the application and award the appropriate disbursement to the applicant. All rebate payments shall be issued within 10 business days after the receipt of a complete application and its approval.

d. The State Treasurer shall certify to the board every 30 days the amount available in the fund for the next 30 days.

18. (New section) a. The State Treasurer shall adopt, in consultation with the board and the department, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations:

(1) establishing the filing requirements for a complete application for a rebate disbursement from the fund; and

(2) prescribing the necessary documentation of the purchase of an eligible vehicle, pass through to the consumer of the applicable rebate, or any other documentation required by the State Treasurer, board, or department for rebate disbursement.

b. When establishing requirements for an application for rebate disbursement, the State Treasurer shall strive to minimize the complexity of the application process and any costs to an applicant for complying with application requirements.

19. (New section) a. The State Treasurer may deny an application for rebate disbursement from the fund, and any rebate disbursement from the fund may be recoverable by the State Treasurer, upon a finding that:

(1) the applicant is not an eligible recipient;

(2) the applicant provided false information to obtain a rebate disbursement, or withheld information on an application that would render the applicant ineligible for the rebate disbursement; or

(3) the applicant provided false information or withheld information that resulted in the applicant receiving a larger rebate disbursement than the amount the applicant would otherwise be eligible.

b. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the State Treasurer, board, department, or any other State agency to undertake an investigation or make any findings concerning the conduct described in subsection a. of this section.

20. (New section) The Board of Public Utilities shall adopt, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations as may be necessary for the development and installation of infrastructure to achieve the goals set forth in section 3 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) and for implementation of any initiatives and programs established pursuant to P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

21. Section 2 of P.L.2003, c.266 (C.26:2C-8.16) is amended to read as follows:

2. As used in [sections 1 through 7 of] P.L.2003, c.266 [(C.2C:2C-8.15 et seq.)] (C.26:2C-8.15 et al.):

"Advanced technology partial zero emission vehicle" means a vehicle certified as an advanced technology partial zero emission vehicle pursuant to the California Air Resources Board vehicle standards for the applicable model year [;] .

"California Low Emission Vehicle program" means the second phase of the low emission vehicle program being implemented in the State of California, pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Clean Air Act and the California Code of Regulations [;] .

"Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Environmental Protection [;] .

"Department" means the Department of Environmental Protection [;] .

"Federal Clean Air Act" means the federal "Clean Air Act," 42 U.S.C. s.7401 et seq., and any subsequent amendments or supplements to that act [;] .

["Low Emission Vehicle Review Commission" means the commission established by subsection a. of section 5 of P.L.2003, c.266 (C.26:2C-8.19);]

"Partial zero emission vehicle" means a vehicle certified as a partial zero emission vehicle pursuant to the California Air Resources Board vehicle standards for the applicable model year [;] .

"State implementation plan" means the State implementation plan for national ambient air quality standards adopted for New Jersey pursuant to the federal Clean Air Act [;] .

"Zero emission vehicle" means a vehicle certified as a zero emission vehicle pursuant to the California Air Resources Board zero emission vehicle standards for the applicable model year, but shall not include an advanced technology partial zero emission vehicle or a partial zero emission vehicle [; and] .

"Zero emission vehicle requirement" means the percentage or number of those vehicles certified as zero emission vehicles pursuant to the California Air Resources Board vehicle standards and required to be delivered by a manufacturer for sale or lease for the applicable model year, and any additional percentages or numbers of advanced technology partial zero emission vehicles or partial zero emission vehicles that may be delivered by a manufacturer for sale or lease to satisfy the zero emission vehicle requirement established by the California Air Resources Board in lieu of vehicles that meet the pure zero emission vehicle standard.

(cf: P.L.2003, c.266, s.2)

22. Section 3 of P.L.2003, c.266 (C.26:2C-8.17) is amended to read as follows:

3. a. Notwithstanding any provision of a State implementation plan submitted by the Department of Environmental Protection to the United States Environmental Protection Agency pursuant to the requirements of the federal "Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990," 42 U.S.C. s.7403 et seq., to the contrary, the department shall implement the California Low Emission Vehicle program and the California zero emission vehicle requirements in the State beginning on January 1, 2009 [, except as provided pursuant to sections 6 and 7 of P.L.2003, c.266 (C.26:2C-8.20 and C.26:2C-8.21)].

b. The Commissioner of Environmental Protection, within 30 days after a proposed major substantive change to the California Low Emission Vehicle program or the California zero emission vehicle requirements that, if adopted, would necessitate a corresponding substantive change to the program in New Jersey adopted pursuant to subsection a. of this section or rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto, shall provide written notice and a summary of the proposed substantive change to the Senate Environment and Energy Committee and the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee, or their successors as designated respectively by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly.

c. The commissioner shall adopt, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), any rules and regulations necessary to implement the California Low Emission Vehicle program and the California zero emission vehicle requirements in the State beginning on January 1, 2009.

(cf: P.L.2003, c.266, s.3)

23. Section 4 of P.L.2003, c.266 (C.26:2C-8.18) is amended to read as follows:

4. a. [The] Except as provided in subsection e. of this section, the Commissioner of Environmental Protection shall establish a zero emission vehicle credit bank to allow manufacturers to earn and bank vehicle equivalent credits for any advanced technology partial zero emission vehicle or partial zero emission vehicle produced and delivered for sale or lease in the State [on or after January 1, 1999 and through December 31, 2008].

(1) In establishing the credit bank required by this section, the commissioner shall use the highest multiplier used by the California Air Resources Board for determining the allowable vehicle equivalent credits for each advanced technology partial zero emission vehicle or partial zero emission vehicle delivered for sale or lease in the State by a manufacturer on or after January 1, 1999 until the effective date of P.L.2003, c.266 (C.26:2C-8.15 et al.).

(2) Beginning on the effective date of P.L.2003, c.266 (C.26:2C-8.15 et al.), the commissioner shall use the multiplier used by the California Air Resources Board for the applicable model year for each advanced technology partial zero emission vehicle or partial zero emission vehicle delivered for sale or lease in the State by a manufacturer on or after the effective date of P.L.2003, c.266 (C.26:2C-8.15 et al.) [and through December 31, 2008].

b. (1) Within 180 days after the effective date of P.L.2003, c.266 (C.26:2C-8.15 et al.), the commissioner shall publish a list in the New Jersey Register of the make and model of those motor vehicles that qualify as advanced technology partial zero emission vehicles or partial zero emission vehicles for the 1999 through 2003 model years.

(2) Annually thereafter, the commissioner shall publish a list in the New Jersey Register of the make and model of those motor vehicles that qualify as advanced technology partial zero emission vehicles or partial zero emission vehicles for that respective model year.

(3) The commissioner may revise any list published pursuant to this subsection as necessary to comply with the California Air Resources Board vehicle standards for the applicable model year.

c. Notwithstanding the provisions of the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) to the contrary, the commissioner shall, immediately upon filing the proper notice with the Office of Administrative Law, adopt such temporary rules and regulations as necessary to establish a zero emission vehicle credit bank pursuant to subsection a. of this section. These rules and regulations may include, but need not be limited to, the documentation to be submitted by a manufacturer to determine eligibility and participation in the credit bank established pursuant to subsection a. of this section, and fees for administrative services provided to implement the zero emission vehicle credit bank to be assessed to those manufacturers seeking to earn and bank credits. The temporary rules and regulations shall be in effect for a period not to exceed 270 days after the date of the filing, except that in no case shall the temporary rules and regulations be in effect one year after the effective date of P.L.2003, c.266 (C.26:2C-8.15 et al.). The temporary rules and regulations shall thereafter be amended, adopted or readopted by the commissioner as the commissioner determines is necessary in accordance with the requirements of the "Administrative Procedure Act."

d. [The provisions of this section shall expire upon the passage of a concurrent resolution by the Legislature directing the department to implement the National Low Emission Vehicle program pursuant to subsection a. of section 6 of P.L.2003, c.266 (C.26:2C-8.20).] (Deleted by amendment, P.L. , c. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill)

e. The Commissioner of Environmental Protection shall petition the California Air Resources Board and the Governor of the State of California to revise the California rules and regulations adopted to implement the California Low Emission Vehicle program and the California zero emission vehicle requirements to provide that the vehicles "sold or leased" in the State meet program requirements rather than vehicles "produced and delivered for sale or lease" in the State. Upon the revision by the California Air Resources Board, any reference to vehicles produced and delivered for sale or lease in the State pursuant to State laws, rules, or regulations shall be construed to mean vehicles sold or leased in the State until the appropriate revisions to State laws, rules, or regulations may be enacted or adopted.

(cf: P.L.2003, c.266, s.4)

24. Section 7 of P.L.2007, c.340 (C.26:2C-51) is amended to read as follows:

7. a. The agencies administering programs established pursuant to this section shall maximize coordination in the administration of the programs to avoid overlap between the uses of the fund prescribed in this section.

b. Moneys in the fund, after appropriation annually for payment of administrative costs authorized pursuant to subsection c. of this section, shall be annually appropriated and used for the following purposes:

(1) Sixty percent shall be allocated to the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to provide grants and other forms of financial assistance to commercial, institutional, and industrial entities to support end-use energy efficiency projects and new, efficient electric generation facilities that are state of the art, as determined by the department, including but not limited to energy efficiency and renewable energy applications, to develop combined heat and power production and other high efficiency electric generation facilities, to stimulate or reward investment in the development of innovative carbon emissions abatement technologies with significant carbon emissions reduction or avoidance potential, to develop qualified offshore wind projects pursuant to section 3 of P.L.2010, c.57 (C.48:3-87.1), and to provide financial assistance to manufacturers of equipment associated with qualified offshore wind projects. The authority, in consultation with the board and the department, shall determine: (a) the appropriate level of grants or other forms of financial assistance to be awarded to individual commercial, institutional, and industrial sectors and to individual projects within each of these sectors; (b) the evaluation criteria for selecting projects to be awarded grants or other forms of financial assistance, which criteria shall include the ability of the project to result in a measurable reduction of the emission of greenhouse gases or a measurable reduction in energy demand, provided, however, that neither the development of a new combined heat and power production facility, nor an increase in the electrical and thermal output of an existing combined heat and power production facility, shall be subject to the requirement to demonstrate such a measurable reduction; and (c) the process by which grants or other forms of financial assistance can be applied for and awarded including, if applicable, the payment terms and conditions for authority investments in certain projects with commercial viability;

(2) Twenty percent shall be allocated to the board to support programs that are designed to reduce electricity demand or costs to electricity customers in the low-income and moderate-income residential sector with a focus on urban areas, including efforts to address heat island effect and reduce impacts on ratepayers attributable to the implementation of P.L.2007, c.340 (C.26:2C-45 et al.). For the purposes of this paragraph, the board, in consultation with the authority and the department, shall determine the types of programs to be supported and the mechanism by which to quantify benefits to ensure that the supported programs result in a measurable reduction in energy demand;

(3) Ten percent shall be allocated to the department to support programs designed to promote local government efforts to plan, develop and implement measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including but not limited to technical assistance to local governments, and the awarding of grants and other forms of assistance to local governments to conduct and implement energy efficiency, renewable energy, and distributed energy programs and land use planning where the grant or assistance results in a measurable reduction of the emission of greenhouse gases or a measurable reduction in energy demand. For the purpose of conducting any program pursuant to this paragraph, the department, in consultation with the authority and the board, shall determine: (a) the appropriate level of grants or other forms of financial assistance to be awarded to local governments; (b) the evaluation criteria for selecting projects to be awarded grants or other forms of financial assistance; (c) the process by which grants or other forms of financial assistance can be applied for and awarded; and (d) a mechanism by which to quantify benefits; and

(4) Ten percent shall be allocated to the department to support programs that enhance the stewardship and restoration of the State's forests and tidal marshes that provide important opportunities to sequester or reduce greenhouse gases.

c. (1) The department may use up to four percent of the total amount in the fund each year to pay for administrative costs justifiable and approved in the annual budget process, incurred by the department in administering the provisions of P.L.2007, c.340 (C.26:2C-45 et al.) and in administering programs to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases including any obligations that may arise under subsection a. of section 11 of P.L.2007, c.340 (C.26:2C-55).

(2) The board may use up to two percent of the total amount in the fund each year to pay for administrative costs justifiable and approved in the annual budget process, incurred by the board in administering the provisions of P.L.2007, c.340 (C.26:2C-45 et al.) and in administering programs to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases including any obligations that may arise under subsection a. of section 11 of P.L.2007, c.340 (C.26:2C-55).

(3) The New Jersey Economic Development Authority may use up to two percent of the total amount in the fund each year to pay for administrative costs justifiable and approved in the annual budget process, incurred by the authority in administering the provisions of P.L.2007, c.340 (C.26:2C-45 et al.) and in administering programs to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases.

d. The State Comptroller shall conduct or supervise independent audit and fiscal oversight functions of the fund and its uses.

e. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section to the contrary, the first $20,000,000 of funds received by the State each year from participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative shall be deposited into the Plug-in Elective Vehicle Rebate Fund, established pursuant to section 16 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) for the provision of rebates by the board pursuant to that act. Any remaining funds shall be appropriated and used pursuant to subsections b. and c. of this section.

(cf: P.L.2010, c.57, s.5)

25. Section 8 of P.L.2007, c.340 (C.26:2C-52) is amended to read as follows:

8. a. Within one year after the date of enactment of P.L.2007, c.340 (C.26:2C-45 et al.), the department, in consultation with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority and the board, shall adopt, in accordance with the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), guidelines and a priority ranking system to be used to assist in annually allocating funds to eligible projects or programs pursuant to subsection b. of section 7 of P.L.2007, c.340 (C.26:2C-51).

b. The guidelines and the priority ranking system developed pursuant to this section for selecting projects or programs to be awarded grants or other forms of financial assistance from the fund shall include but need not be limited to an evaluation of each eligible project or program as to its predicted ability to:

(1) result in a net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the State or in greenhouse gas emissions from electricity produced out of the State but consumed in the State or net sequestration of carbon;

(2) result in significant reductions in greenhouse gases relative to the cost of the project or program and the reduction of impacts on ratepayers attributable to the implementation of P.L.2007, c.340 (C.26:2C-45 et al.), and the ability of the project or program to significantly contribute to achievement of the State's 2020 limit and 2050 limit established pursuant to the "Global Warming Response Act," P.L.2007, c.112 (C.26:2C-37 et al.), relative to the cost of the project or program;

(3) reduce energy use;

(4) provide co-benefits to the State, including but not limited to creating job opportunities, reducing other air pollutants, reducing costs to electricity and natural gas consumers, improving local electric system reliability, and contributing to regional initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and

(5) be directly responsive to the recommendations when submitted by the department to the Legislature pursuant to section 6 of the "Global Warming Response Act," P.L.2007, c.112 (C.26:2C-42).

c. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections a. and b. of this section to the contrary, the department shall give high priority to grants for the electric vehicle rebate disbursements for the "Light Duty Plug-in Electric Vehicle Rebate Program," established pursuant to section 14 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

(cf: P.L.2007, c.340, s.8)

26. Section 12 of P.L.1999, c.23 (C.48:3-60) is amended to read as follows:

12. a. Simultaneously with the starting date for the implementation of retail choice as determined by the board pursuant to subsection a. of section 5 of [this act] P.L.1999, c.23 (C.48:3-53 et seq.), the board shall permit each electric public utility and gas public utility to recover some or all of the following costs through a societal benefits charge that shall be collected as a non-bypassable charge imposed on all electric public utility customers and gas public utility customers, as appropriate:

(1) The costs for the social programs for which rate recovery was approved by the board prior to April 30, 1997. For the purpose of establishing initial unbundled rates pursuant to section 4 of [this act] P.L.1999, c.23 (C.48:3-53 et seq.), the societal benefits charge shall be set to recover the same level of social program costs as is being collected in the bundled rates of the electric public utility on the effective date of [this act] P.L.1999, c.23 (C.48:3-53 et seq.). The board may subsequently order, pursuant to its rules and regulations, an increase or decrease in the societal benefits charge to reflect changes in the costs to the utility of administering existing social programs. Nothing in [his act] P.L.1999, c.23 (C.48:3-53 et seq.) shall be construed to abolish or change any social program required by statute or board order or rule or regulation to be provided by an electric public utility. Any such social program shall continue to be provided by the utility until otherwise provided by law, unless the board determines that it is no longer appropriate for the electric public utility to provide the program, or the board chooses to modify the program;

(2) Nuclear plant decommissioning costs;

(3) The costs of demand side management programs that were approved by the board pursuant to its demand side management regulations prior to April 30, 1997. For the purpose of establishing initial unbundled rates pursuant to section 4 of [this act] P.L.1999, c.23 (C.48:3-53 et seq.), the societal benefits charge shall be set to recover the same level of demand side management program costs as is being collected in the bundled rates of the electric public utility on the effective date of [this act] P.L.1999, c.23 (C.48:3-53 et seq.). Within four months of the effective date of [this act] P.L.1999, c.23 (C.48:3-53 et seq.), and every four years thereafter, the board shall initiate a proceeding and cause to be undertaken a comprehensive resource analysis of energy programs, and within eight months of initiating such proceeding and after notice, provision of the opportunity for public comment, and public hearing, the board, in consultation with the Department of Environmental Protection, shall determine the appropriate level of funding for energy efficiency and Class I renewable energy programs that provide environmental benefits above and beyond those provided by standard offer or similar programs in effect as of the effective date of [this act] P.L.1999, c.23 (C.48:3-53 et seq.); provided that the funding for such programs be no less than 50 [%] percent of the total Statewide amount being collected in [public] electric and gas public utility rates for demand side management programs on the effective date of [this act] P.L.1999, c.23 (C.48:3-53 et seq.) for an initial period of four years from the issuance of the first comprehensive resource analysis following the effective date of [this act] P.L.1999, c.23 (C.48:3-53 et seq.), and provided that 25 [%] percent of this amount shall be used to provide funding for Class I renewable energy projects in the State. In each of the following fifth through eighth years, the Statewide funding for such programs shall be no less than 50 percent of the total Statewide amount being collected in [public] electric and gas public utility rates for demand side management programs on the effective date of [this act] P.L.1999, c.23 (C.48:3-53 et seq.), except that as additional funds are made available as a result of the expiration of past standard offer or similar commitments, the minimum amount of funding for such programs shall increase by an additional amount equal to 50 percent of the additional funds made available, until the minimum amount of funding dedicated to such programs reaches $140,000,000 total. After the eighth year the board shall make a determination as to the appropriate level of funding for these programs. Such programs shall include a program to provide financial incentives for the installation of Class I renewable energy projects in the State, and the board, in consultation with the Department of Environmental Protection, shall determine the level and total amount of such incentives as well as the renewable technologies eligible for such incentives which shall include, at a minimum, photovoltaic, wind, and fuel cells. The board shall simultaneously determine, as a result of the comprehensive resource analysis, the programs to be funded by the societal benefits charge, the level of cost recovery and performance incentives for old and new programs and whether the recovery of demand side management programs' costs currently approved by the board may be reduced or extended over a longer period of time. The board shall make these determinations taking into consideration existing market barriers and environmental benefits, with the objective of transforming markets, capturing lost opportunities, making energy services more affordable for low income customers and eliminating subsidies for programs that can be delivered in the marketplace without electric public utility and gas public utility customer funding;

(4) Manufactured gas plant remediation costs, which shall be determined initially in a manner consistent with mechanisms in the remediation adjustment clauses for the electric public utility and gas public utility adopted by the board; [and]

(5) The cost, of consumer education, as determined by the board, which shall be in an amount that, together with the consumer education surcharge imposed on electric power supplier license fees pursuant to subsection h. of section 29 of [this act] P.L.1999, c.23 (C.48:3-53 et seq.) and the consumer education surcharge imposed on gas supplier license fees pursuant to subsection g. of section 30 of [this act] P.L.1999, c.23 (C.48:3-53 et seq.), shall be sufficient to fund the consumer education program established pursuant to section 36 of [this act] P.L.1999, c.23 (C.48:3-53 et seq.); and

(6) The costs of electric vehicle rebates disbursed for the "Light Duty Plug-in Electric Vehicle Rebate Program," established pursuant to section 14 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill). The board may order, pursuant to its rules and regulations, an increase in the societal benefits charge to reflect these costs.

b. There is established in the Board of Public Utilities a nonlapsing fund to be known as the "Universal Service Fund." The board shall determine: the level of funding and the appropriate administration of the fund; the purposes and programs to be funded with monies from the fund; which social programs shall be provided by an electric public utility as part of the provision of its regulated services which provide a public benefit; whether the funds appropriated to fund the "Lifeline Credit Program" established pursuant to P.L.1979, c.197 (C.48:2-29.15 et seq.), the "Tenants' Lifeline Assistance Program" established pursuant to P.L.1981, c.210 (C.48:2-29.31 et seq.), the funds received pursuant to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program established pursuant to 42 U.S.C. s.8621 et seq., and funds collected by electric and natural gas utilities, as authorized by the board, to offset uncollectible electricity and natural gas bills should be deposited in the fund; and whether new charges should be imposed to fund new or expanded social programs.

(cf: P.L.1999, c.23, s.12)

27. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill would establish goals, initiatives, and programs to encourage and support the use of plug-in electric vehicles in the State.

Specifically, section 3 of the bill would establish State goals for the use of plug-in electric vehicles and the development of plug-in electric vehicle charging infrastructure to support that use. Under the bill, no later than December 31, 2020, and every five years thereafter, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) would be required to prepare and submit to the Governor and the Legislature a report that: (1) assesses the state of the plug-in electric vehicle market in New Jersey; (2) measures the State's progress toward achieving the goals outlined in the bill; (3) identifies barriers to the achievement of the goals; and (4) makes recommendations for legislative or regulatory action to address those barriers.

Section 4 of the bill would establish the Electric Vehicle Working Group, to be composed of 19 members, including the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, the President of the Board of Public Utilities, the Commissioner of Transportation, the Executive Director of the New Jersey Transit Corporation, the Executive Director of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, the Executive Director of the South Jersey Transportation Authority, the Commissioner of Community Affairs, the Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the Chief Executive Officer of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, and the Director of the Division of Rate Counsel in, but not of, the Department of Treasury, or their respective designees, and various other stakeholders and subject matter experts.

The working group would be required to develop, and annually update, a Statewide Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Plan, and monitor implementation of that plan and its effectiveness in advancing the goals established in the bill. Subsection h. of section 4 of the bill outlines the information to be incorporated into the State Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Plan. The working group would coordinate the development of the plan with the development and revision of the Statewide Energy Master Plan. The working group would also develop a public education program, to be implemented by the DEP, to inform the public about plug-in electric vehicles and the availability of vehicle charging infrastructure. The working group would issue a final report on the Statewide Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Plan during the calendar year 2035 and dissolve 30 days after the report is issued.

Under the bill, the Board of Public Utilities ("the board"), in cooperation with electric public utilities and various government agencies, would be required to develop the essential public charging network. The network would: (1) provide sufficient public charging infrastructure to support a significant expansion in the use of plug-in electric vehicles in the State and consumer confidence in using these vehicles; (2) integrate with the electric distribution system and the electric transmission system; and (3) provide a level of public charging infrastructure sufficient to minimize consumer range anxiety. Each electric public utility in the State would be required to implement the essential public charging network in accordance with the requirements of subsections b. and c. of section 9 of the bill.

Within one year after the effective date of the bill, each electric public utility in the State would be required to submit to the board a proposed plan for the construction and long-term operation of the essential public charging network within its service territory in accordance with the requirements of section 10 of the bill. No later than 180 days after receipt of a proposed plan, the board would be required to review and issue a determination approving, rejecting, or approving with modifications a utility's plan. The board order approving, or approving with modifications, a utility's proposed plan would provide for and approve full and timely recovery, through a separate utility rate clause, all reasonable costs, which may be included in the utility's rate base as either a capital or regulatory asset. Utilities would be permitted to use funding sources other than recovering costs through customer rates whenever feasible. The bill authorizes utilities to propose programs, incentives, tariffs, and initiatives to support the development of vehicle charging infrastructure.

Under the bill, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, the South Jersey Transportation Authority, and the Department of Transportation would be required to establish publicly-accessible electric vehicle charging parking spaces for the exclusive use of plug-in electric vehicles at their respective service areas. These agencies would be directed to charge a fee to plug-in electric vehicle drivers using the charging equipment in a reasonable amount to recover costs associated with installation and operation of the charging equipment for public use, either directly or through contracted third-parties.

No later than 90 days after the effective date of the bill, the board, in cooperation with the State Treasurer and the DEP, would be required to establish and implement the "Light Duty Plug-in Electric Vehicle Rebate Program" for the purpose of encouraging the purchase of light duty plug-in electric vehicles. The board would implement the rebate program until June 30 of the 10th year after the rebate program begins, or after $300 million in rebate disbursements have been paid from the fund, whichever occurs first. The board would establish the rebate as a one-time payment to the purchaser of a new light duty plug-in electric vehicle in an amount set and calculated by the department as equal to at least $25 per mile of the eligible vehicle's electric power range as certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and determined by the DEP, up to a maximum of $5,000 per eligible vehicle. The board may adjust the rebate amount as necessary to achieve the goals outlined in the bill, but not more than once per aggregate disbursement of $100 million in rebates. The board, in consultation with the working group, would develop and implement a Statewide public education program to publicize the availability of the rebates under the bill.

An "eligible" vehicle is defined in the bill as a new light duty plug-in electric vehicle with a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $55,000 or less, purchased after the effective date of the bill. "Plug-in electric vehicle" means a vehicle that has a battery or equivalent energy storage device that can be charged from an electricity supply external to the vehicle with an electric plug, and includes a plug-in hybrid vehicle. However, notwithstanding other provisions of the bill, a light duty plug-in hybrid vehicle would not qualify for a rebate after December 31, 2022.

Under the bill, a vehicle dealership may, in its discretion, provide a purchaser the option to have the amount of the electric vehicle rebate deducted from the final price of an eligible vehicle. The dealer would then apply to the State Treasurer to receive the rebate. A purchaser who does not receive the rebate at the time of purchase may apply directly to the State Treasurer for the rebate. The board would be required to keep track of, and provide to the public, up-to-date information about rebate availability. Sections 17 through 19 establish the process by which an eligible recipient must apply to the Department of Treasury to receive the rebate, and the process by which the Department of Treasury must approve or deny an application. Section 16 of the bill would establish the "Plug-in Electric Vehicle Rebate Fund" to be used by the Department of Treasury solely to make rebate disbursements to eligible recipients. The board would be authorized to deposit into the fund moneys received from the societal benefits charge established pursuant to section 11 of P.L.1999, c.23 (C.48:3-60), moneys made available to the board pursuant to the implementation of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and P.L.2007, c.340 (C.26:2C-45 et seq.), and moneys available from other funding sources as determined by the board.

The bill amends existing law to address implementation issues under the State's adoption of the California Low Emission Vehicle Program and its zero emissions vehicle requirements. The bill would require the Commissioner of Environmental Protection to petition the California Air Resources Board and the Governor of California to revise the State's rules and regulations to provide that the vehicles "sold or leased" in the State meet program requirements rather than vehicles "produced and delivered for sale or lease." Upon revision by the California Air Resources Board, the term "produced and delivered for sale" in existing State law would be construed to mean "sold or leased," until State law is revised.

The bill provides that the first $20 million of funds received by the State each year from participation in RGGI would be deposited into the "Plug-in Electric Vehicle Rebate Fund" established in the bill. Finally, the bill would also permit the costs of electric vehicle rebates disbursed under the bill to be recovered through the societal benefits charge, and it would authorize the board, pursuant to its rules and regulations, to order an increase in the societal benefits charge to reflect these costs.