New Jersey Resources Marks Earth Day With the Launch of the Coastal Climate Initiative

Building on its track record of sustainability leadership, New Jersey Resources (NYSE: NJR), a diversified energy company and parent company of New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG), marks Earth Day with the launch of the Coastal Climate Initiative — a program aimed at advancing climate change solutions to positively impact the communities it serves.

The program kicks off with support for The Nature Conservancy in New Jersey, an environmental nonprofit with over 60 years of experience working to protect water and lands in New Jersey, and their work to restore saltwater tidal wetlands in the Barnegat Bay – part of NJNG’s service territory. The salt marsh islands in Barnegat Bay and along the New Jersey shore are vital ecosystems and have been identified by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection as playing a critical role in the state meeting its emissions reduction targets.

“As a business headquartered at the Jersey Shore and serving its communities, combating climate change and helping advance the state’s clean energy goals are top priorities for New Jersey Resources,” said Steve Westhoven, president and CEO of New Jersey Resources. “Through our Coastal Climate Initiative, we’re teaming up with The Nature Conservancy in New Jersey to take action on climate solutions that will restore precious natural habitats in the Barnegat Bay, reduce emissions and make a real difference for our communities on the front line of climate change.”

The Nature Conservancy, alongside a broad coalition of partners, is advancing an innovative restoration technique that holds great potential for large-scale renewal of struggling marshes in New Jersey.

Coastal marshes act as “carbon sinks”, reducing emissions by actively removing carbon from the atmosphere and safely sequestering it away in the ground. They also act as a natural barrier against climate impacts, reducing the impact of storm surge and providing a barrier to help protect people and property in New Jersey’s coastal communities.

“The support and partnership of New Jersey Resources comes at a critical time as we look to expand our work and identify restoration needs and plans for more than 80 marsh islands throughout the Barnegat Bay,” said Dr. Barbara Brummer, state director of The Nature Conservancy in New Jersey. “We thank New Jersey Resources and their customers for taking action and supporting this opportunity to make a real, long-term difference combating the effects of climate change.”