NJ COOL PROGRAM

Open in new Tab NJ COOL PROGRAM The NJEDA Board has approved a Phase 2 of the NJ Cool Pilot Program. The Program is not yet accepting applications, please check back for updates on the application opening date. Phase 2 of the NJ Cool Pilot Program is a $25 million program launched by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) to provide grants to institutional building owners and tenants undertaking retrofit construction projects that reduce operating greenhouse gas emissions from existing buildings in State-designated Overburdened Community and Adjacent Community census blocks. Eligible project locations must fall within the blue or yellow shaded areas mapped on the   Overburdened Communities | NJ Environmental Justice Mapping, Assessment and Protection Tool (EJMAP) The NJEDA will provide grants ranging from $50,000 to $1 million to reimburse eligible buildings for construction costs from projects that upgrade building heating and cooling systems to less polluting alternatives and install on-site renewable energy generation or energy storage systems. This pilot is funded by the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) proceeds allocated to NJEDA and will accelerate the adoption of more environmentally friendly building construction practices within New Jersey ELIGIBILITY GRANT AWARD ELIGIBLE USE OF GRANT FUNDING APPLICATION PROCESS FEES ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS Applicant • Applicants must be Institutional building owners OR equivalent tenants seeking to complete retrofit construction projects in existing eligible building spaces. • Institutional buildings include owners OR tenants that serve a non-profit or public purpose such as a school, institution of higher education, municipal utility, public recreation or cultural facility, or government entity. • The term “government entity” includes local and municipal government entities, but for the purposes of this pilot, State government entities are not eligible. • Commercial buildings include private commercial use building owners OR tenants whose primary use of the building is commercial operations that meet the definition of Property Class 4A. • Industrial buildings include private manufacturing building owners OR tenants whose primary use of the building is manufacturing or industrial operations that meet the definition of Property Class 4B. • Tenants must demonstrate owner approval and a valid lease for one year beyond the length of the proposed project’s construction timeline and provide a landlord certification approving the project. • Commercial and Industrial applicants must have less than $5 million in revenue as demonstrated on most recent annual tax documentation. A maximum of $3 million in total grants will be made available per Employer Identification Number (EIN). Building Buildings must meet the follow requirements Project must be located within New Jersey State Designated Overburdened Communities (OBCs) or a formally designated Adjacent Communities at time of application as defined by the New Jersey Environmental Justice Law, per NJDEP EJMAP tool. AND Meet one of the following property classes as defined by NJAC 18:12-22 • Class 4A: Commercial Property • Class 4B: Industrial Property • Class 15A: Public School Property • Class 15B: Other School Property • Class 15C: Public Property • Class 15D: Church and Charitable Property • Class 15F: Other Tax-Exempt Property Project Projects must include one (1) scope selection from each of the following two (2) categories: 1. Renewable Energy Generation or Energy Storage • On-site renewable energy generation (solar, geothermal, etc.) • On-site energy storage (battery, thermal, etc.) AND 2. Clean Heating and Cooling • Electrification/Fuel Switching of Space Heating Systems • Refrigeration Modernization of Space Cooling Systems