New Jersey Resources Launches Sustainability Agenda

On Jan 23, 2020

New Jersey Resources President and CEO Steve Westhoven outlined a sustainability agenda for the company, including a commitment to voluntarily reduce its New Jersey operational emissions to 50% of 2006 levels by 2030.

Announced at NJR’s Annual Meeting of Shareowners, NJR’s sustainability agenda includes:

• Emissions reduction efforts, including a voluntary 2030 emissions reduction target aligned with the state’s Global Warming Response Act (GWRA)
• Organizational changes, including the creation of an Office of Sustainability, to more effectively drive sustainability results throughout the company
• The adoption of Environmental Guiding Principles
• The launch of a dedicated sustainability microsite, www.NJRSustainability.com, to strengthen transparency and stakeholder communication
• The release of NJR’s 2019 Corporate Sustainability Report on www.NJRSustainability.com

“NJR continues to embrace a clean energy future and has a strong track record of leading the way on sustainability. Today, we’re making it clear that we are going even further with a comprehensive sustainability agenda and an ambitious 50% emissions reduction target for our New Jersey operations by 2030,” said President and CEO Steve Westhoven. “Our strategy is anchored in the belief and recognition that our company can responsibly grow and reduce emissions by seizing the many opportunities in increased energy efficiency and solar investments, decarbonizing the gas stream and making technology upgrades to our infrastructure. I’m proud to take these steps and build on NJR’s strong commitment to sustainability.”

NJR’s 2030 emissions reduction target continues the company’s alignment with New Jersey’s Global Warming Response Act (GWRA), which was signed into law in 2007 and calls for an 80% reduction in New Jersey’s greenhouse gas emissions from 2006 levels by 2050.

NJR previously committed to the initial GWRA target of a 20% reduction in emissions by 2020 – and met that goal in 2012 for most parts of its business, including reductions in its fleet, pipeline and facility emissions.

Creation of the Office of Sustainability and Adoption of Environmental Guiding Principles

To help achieve NJR’s 2030 emissions reduction target, and to drive sustainability efforts across the company, Westhoven also announced the formation of an Office of Sustainability within NJR, supporting NJR’s Corporate Sustainability Council and bringing all company sustainability efforts together under a single framework. This structure will be responsible for sustainability priorities across the company and will be empowered to establish emission reduction strategies and set goals, measure progress and manage transparent reporting to stakeholders.

“These are dynamic issues for companies that require a strategic and thoughtful approach – that’s why one of my first acts as CEO is to create the Office of Sustainability at NJR,” added Westhoven. “This organizational structure will give us a full, 360-degree view of sustainability efforts across the company, making us more effective in measuring our progress as we work toward our goals.”

The NJR Corporate Sustainability Council has adopted a set of Environmental Guiding Principles for these efforts:

• Support sound public policies that address climate impacts and ensure reliable, affordable and clean energy for our customers.
• Embrace innovations across technologies and fuel types that deliver energy with improved environmental outcomes.
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions from operated assets and suppliers by prioritizing mitigation strategies and reduction targets.
• Increase transparency about sustainability progress through public reporting and stakeholder outreach.
• Expand customer energy efficiency, conservation and environmental stewardship opportunities.

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