The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection will mark National Drive Electric Week by expanding a grant program to fund installation of electric-vehicle charging stations around the state.
Expanding the It Pay$ to Plug In program is timely as National Drive Electric Week, which begins Saturday, Sept. 8 and continues through Sunday, Sept. 16, draws attention to plug-in vehicles and highlights the benefits and availability of all-electric and plug-in hybrid electric cars, trucks and motorcycles. Various events are planned around the state to showcase the benefits of driving electric vehicles.
Governor Phil Murphy has formally proclaimed Sept. 8 through 16 as Drive Electric Week in New Jersey, noting the strong link between vehicle emissions and emissions that contribute to climate change.
“We are especially committed to the benefits of electric vehicles and clean energy because transportation is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the state,” Assistant Commissioner for Air Quality, Energy and Sustainability Paul Baldauf said. “For healthy families and a healthy climate, we must work toward zero-emission vehicles by building a robust network of electric vehicle infrastructure statewide.”
Cars and light trucks cause about 30 percent of ozone-forming air pollutants. Ground-level ozone – or smog – is the state’s most persistent health-related air pollution problem. Ozone worsens chronic lung illnesses such as asthma and emphysema, particularly in vulnerable populations including children and senior citizens.
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