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Local Government Greenhouse Gas Reduction Grant Program
Frequently Asked Questions
The Local Government Greenhouse Gas Reduction Grant Program (Grant Program) was created by the NJ Global Warming Solutions Fund Act (Act) (P.L. 2007, Chapter 340; N.J.S.A. 26:2C-50 et seq.) which established the Global Warming Solutions Fund from which this Grant Program is funded. Rules that implementthis Grant Program are at N.J.A.C. 7:27D-4.
In accordance with the Act, the purpose of the Grant Program is to support program areas designed to promote local government agencies’ efforts to plan, develop and implement measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, or that implement energy efficiency, renewable energy, distributed energy programs, or land use planning, each of which is expected to result in a measurable reduction in greenhouse gas emissions or energy demand.
The Act allocates ten percent (10%) of the proceeds derived from the auction of carbon allowances under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) to local government projects and other actions that result in a measurable reduction of greenhouse gases, as well as NJDEP efforts that assist local governments’ ability to reduce GHG. This 10% is the Local Government Greenhouse Gas Reduction Grant Program.
The Pre-Application Deadline has been extended to September 4th, 2009. Please review these frequently asked questions and other grant information at: http://www.nj.gov/dep/opsc/ghggrant.html. Please direct additional questions to: GHGGrants@dep.state.nj.us.
These Frequently Asked Questions are grouped together with the following sub-titles: Information; Eligibility; Greenhouse Gas Action Planning and Implementation; Energy; Funding Levels; Infrastructure; Matching Funds; Land Use and Transportation and Application Process.
These FAQs will be updated as new questions and answers are posted.
Please check back for updates!
Information:
Eligibility:
Greenhouse Gas Action Planning and Implementation:
Energy:
Funding Levels:
Infrastructure:
Matching Funds:
Land Use and Transportation:
Green Fleet:
Application Process:
Eligible Costs:
Information:
Where can I find all the information for the Grant Program? (posted 7/1/09)
Website: http://www.nj.gov/dep/opsc/ghggrant.html
Workshops: There are two workshops being offered at this time.
- Sponsored by NJFuture
Date: Monday, July 20th 10:00 - 12:00 noon
Location: The Bloustein School, 33 Livingston Street, downtown New Brunswick.
For directions and additional information: http://www.njfuture.org/Media/Docs/July%2020,%202009%20dep%20workshop.pdf
- The NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) will be holding an Information Workshop on the Local Government Greenhouse Gas Reduction Grant Program.
Date: Thursday, July 23, 2009
Time: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Location: Public Hearing Room, NJDEP Headquarters, 401 E. State Street, Trenton, NJ 08625
http://www.nj.gov/dep/where.htm
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Eligibility:
Who is eligible to apply for this Grant Program? (posted 7/1/09)
Only local government agencies are eligible to apply for funding under this Grant Program. A local government agency must be:
- a contracting unit under the Local Public Contacts Law1, i.e., municipality, county or local authority;
- a board of education under the Public School Contracts Law2; or
- a county college under the County College Contracts Law3.
1 (N.J.S.A. 40A:11-2(1))
2 (N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-2a)
3 (N.J.S.A. 18A:64A-25.2b)
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Can a municipality or group of municipalities apply on behalf of regional planning authorities/organization? (posted 7/1/09)
No, it would be inconsistent with N.J.A.C. 7:27D-4.1 for municipalities to apply for a grant on behalf of the regional planning organization. Since the rule expressly requires the applicant to be a local government unit, it would be problematic to apply on behalf of a different type of entity, and then pass the grant through to that entity, even if for an appropriate purpose. Municipalities can sign/apply for the grant on their own behalf, and then "hire" or contract with the regional planning organization to perform the project, acting in a capacity similar to that of a contractor for the municipalities. To comply with the rule, the municipalities would have to apply for the grant on their own behalf, accept the grant money and account for its expenditure. The payment mechanism thus would be similar to that which would be used if the municipalities hired a private contractor.
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Is a Regional Planning Commission or Metropolitan Planning Organization for multiple counties eligible to apply for funding under this Grant Program? (posted 7/1/09)
The Global Warming Solutions Fund Act states that "Ten percent [of the money] shall be allocated to the department to support programs designed to promote local government efforts...to reduce greenhouse gas emissions." Consequently, the only entities eligible for these funds are those specified in the Grant Program Guidelines, i.e., municipalities, counties, county colleges, school boards and local authorities. It is conceivable, however, that this type of organization could partner on a project with a county that would be the direct applicant.
Municipalities can sign/apply for the grant on their own behalf, and then "hire" or contract with the regional planning organization to perform the project, acting in a capacity similar to that of a contractor for the municipalities. To comply with the rule, the municipalities would have to apply for the grant on their own behalf, accept the grant money and account for its expenditure. The payment mechanism thus would be similar to that which would be used if the municipalities hired a private contractor.
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Are Public Libraries eligible? (posted 7/15/09)
If the library is subject to one of the listed contracting laws, specifically: a contracting unit under the Local Public Contacts Law, i.e., municipality, county or local authority - (N.J.S.A. 40A:11-2(1)) then yes, they are eligible.
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Greenhouse Gas Action Planning and Implementation:
Is hiring a company to do a carbon footprint for a municipality eligible? (posted 7/15/09)
Yes, this project would be eligible to receive funding through this grant program.
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Energy:
Are renewable or alternative energy projects, such as solar or wind, eligible for grant funding? (posted 7/1/09, revised 8/31/09)
Generally, yes. However, since State funds are already available for many renewable energy and energy efficiency projects through the NJ Clean Energy Program, the Grant Program has decided that any requests for project funding for which the NJ Clean Energy Program presently has funding programs in place will be given a low priority status. The Local Government Greenhouse Gas Reduction Grant Program will consider paying for, and give priority status to, project planning costs that the NJ Clean Energy Program does not cover. Requests for any of the project “hard” costs such as equipment purchase and installation will receive low priority status for funding. Please go to http://www.njcleanenergy.com/ to learn more about the NJ Clean Energy Program.
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Funding Levels:
An applicant is limited to $ 300,000 in grants. Does this mean that the municipal government is eligible for $ 300,000, the School district for $ 300,000, and the MUA for $ 300,000? Or is the $300,000 the limit for a geographic area, regardless of how many separate groups apply? (posted 7/1/09)
The way the Grant Program is presently structured allows each individual local government agency (e.g., municipality, school district, authority) to be awarded up to $300,000. The fact that applicants may share geographic boundaries doesn't affect this policy.
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If a project that is applicable to more than one category on the Eligible Project Table, may the applicant request a grant that exceeds the funding limits for one of the categories? (posted 7/8/09)
It is entirely appropriate for an applicant to make the case that because the proposed project can reduce GHG in multiple ways that the budget requested reflects this benefit. In other words, you can argue for a larger budget since the project is responsive to several project categories.
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One proposed project was completing a carbon inventory of county facilities. After completion of this proposed carbon inventory is any monetary commitment required from the freeholders? (posted 7/8/09)
In order to try and ensure that at least some of the GHG-reducing actions identified by this carbon footprint analysis are implemented, a full project application must include a governing body resolution in which the governing body commits to implementing at least 50% of the actions identified by the footprint analysis. This may or may not require direct municipal financial expenditures.
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How are regional projects defined? (posted 8/25/09)
A regional project is a joint application from two or more local governments from different municipalities.
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Infrastructure:
Can a municipality use grant funding to ensure that a new municipal building is designed, installed, functionally tested and capable of being operated and maintained as an energy efficient building? (posted 7/1/09)
Projects such as this would be generally eligible for Grant Program funding. However, to the extent that the NJ Clean Energy Program’s SmartStart Buildings program (http://www.njcleanenergy.com/commercial-industrial/programs/nj-smartstart-buildings/nj-smartstart-buildings) provides incentives for energy saving actions, these would be ineligible. The only "green infrastructure, sequestration and resource conservation" projects that are eligible are listed on page 6, 7 & 8 of the Eligible Project Table found at: http://www.nj.gov/dep/opsc/docs/eligible_project_table.pdf. This grant program can not be used to fund renewable energy projects, such as solar energy. Renewable energy projects can be funded through the NJ Clean Energy Program - see http://www.njcleanenergy.com/renewable-energy/home/home. A principle of the Local Government Greenhouse Gas Reduction Grant Program is to provide funding assistance for GHG emission-reducing actions that are not eligible for funding elsewhere.
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Matching Funds:
The EPA "Climate Showcase Communities" grant program and the NJ Local Government Greenhouse Gas Reduction program have funding available for similar or overlapping projects? The EPA requires a 50% match of local funds, can all or a portion of the 50% be funded by the NJ grant program? (posted 7/8/09)
The NJDEP Local Government GHG Reduction Grant Program funds may be used to match an EPA grant. However, project costs being covered by the NJ grant must be distinct from EPA-supported costs. Additionally, the proposed project must competitively meet the NJ Grant Program's evaluation criteria to receive an award.
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Land Use and Transportation:
Would a proposed bike path extension be eligible for funding through this program? (posted 7/1/09)
A bike path / walkway network would be eligible. See the top of page 5 in the Eligible Project Table at: http://www.nj.gov/dep/opsc/docs/eligible_project_table.pdf
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Could these grants funds be used to set up and operate a local shuttle bus system? (posted 7/1/09)
Yes, however - all projects must result in measurable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
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Green Fleet:
Would the purchase of more fuel efficient vehicles as part of the implementation of our "green fleet" policy be eligible for a grant? (posted 7/8/09)
The purchase of amore fuel efficient vehicle would NOT qualify. The vehicles purchased would have to be fuel efficient and would need to exemplify at least some of the following green technologies as described and listed on the bottom of page 5 and top of page 6 in the Eligible Project Table:
- Convert vehicles to alternative, lower carbon fuel (biodiesel/blends; compressed natural gas [CNG])
- Provide funding to cover the cost premium associated with alternative, lower carbon fuel vehicles (hybrid; plug-in hybrid; electric; biodiesel; CNG)
- Provide funding to cover the cost premium associated with alternative, lower carbon fuels (biodiesel; CNG)
For a copy of the Eligible Project Table go to: http://www.nj.gov/dep/opsc/docs/eligible_project_table.pdf
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Application Process:
When are pre-applications due? (posted 7/15/09)
The deadline for pre-applications has been extended to September 4th, 2009.
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For one municipality or eligible applicant, how many applications can be submitted for this first round? (posted 7/1/09)
An eligible applicant may submit as many applications as it wishes; however, any grant awards will be capped at a total of $300,000 per applicant. If multiple municipalities are served by an eligible applicant, then that applicant can serve as a sole applicant. However, as noted above an eligible applicant may submit more than one application; however, the total award any single applicant may receive in this funding round is $300,000.
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If an applicant wants to submit grants for multiple projects, do they file one pre-application, or a pre-application for each project? (posted 7/1/09)
Each individual project should be submitted via a separate pre-application form.
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Is a governing body resolution necessary for the preliminary application submission? (posted 7/8/09)
No, just the signature of someone authorized to submit on behalf of the applicant.
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Can a School District which serves several municipalities submit a grant application as three different governmental entities? (posted 7/15/09)
If the 3 municipalities are served by a single board of education, then that board of education will be the sole applicant. The total award any single applicant may receive in this funding round is $300,000.
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Eligible Costs:
Will the Grant program pay for improvements to privately-held property that provides public access or other benefit? (posted 8/7/09)
No, the Local Government Greenhouse Gas Reduction Grant program will not pay for improvements to private property even if a public benefit occurs.
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