ICLEI was contracted to create a Community Energy plan aligned with the 2019 New Jersey Energy Master Plan. This project intended to review previous efforts across city departments, compile outcomes of equity-focused community engagement, and model a series of community-identified, high-impact climate measures.

The Jersey City CAP used ICLEI’s Global GreenClimateCities methodology. For this project, the planning process was primarily completed by City staff. ICLEI then aligned planning efforts with the GCC structure and the state energy and climate priorities. The final report integrated the 3 pillars of climate planning, forming the outline.

Jersey City has been working on climate action for years; however, the city did not previously have the planning structure to deliver an implementation schedule, a project funding source, department staff assignments for implementation projects, nor the language to articulate the integrated nature of climate planning. Jersey City can now pursue state aligned climate planning; implement an action schedule; pursue state & other funding opportunities; and move into a community involved implementation process focused on equity.