By: Gabrielle Mills, Follow South Jersey Intern
SOUTH JERSEY — Climate change is no longer a problem of the future but of today. The frequency with which wildfires, intense flooding and other natural disasters occur is steadily trending upward. According to the United Nations, “since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas.”
While fossil fuels are mainly produced by large-scale industry, they are also produced every day when you drive your car. Although taking public transportation and ridesharing helps, it isn’t a solution.
The State of New Jersey is taking steps to mitigate these causes of climate change and prevent climate disaster. The Murphy administration is looking to move toward zero transportation emissions, with plans to spend 10.8 million toward that end.
“The total investment of $10.8 million includes $6.9 million…for medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicles including school buses, garbage trucks, transit and shuttle buses, and $3.9 million for 62 fast-charging stations,” a press release from the New Jersey department of environmental protection states.
The state plans to increase the number of electric vehicles on the road in hopes to cut down on gaseous emissions. A statement from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection reads, “the latest round of proceeds will be used to increase the number of electronic trucks and buses that traverse communities overburdened by air pollution.”
In addition to implementing heavy duty electric vehicles, the governor’s office and the Department of Environmental Protection are also allocating funds to the installment of electric vehicle charging stations.
“New Jersey’s Electric Vehicle Law, signed in 2020, establishes a goal of having at least 1,000 community charging locations in a town center, commercial area, retail center or near concentrations of multi-unit dwellings by 2025,” the department states.
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