Last Thursday, New Jersey passed 2 bills which will require power companies in the state to generate 50 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and subsidize existing nuclear power plants.  This marks one of the biggest new policy steps that any state has taken toward cutting greenhouse gases since President Trump was elected.

The legislation, Assembly Bill 3723, sets the renewable energy goal and anchors much of the growth in wind and solar energy, aiming to hit 35 percent renewables by 2025 and eventually 50 percent by 2030. That goal would pull New Jersey in line with some of the leading states on the issue, like New York and California.

The bill also includes, $300 million annual subsidy to the state’s remaining nuclear power plants, which provide the state with roughly 40 percent of its electricity. Public Service Enterprise Group and Exelon, the utility companies that operate the power plants, say the subsidies are necessary to keep the power plants operational and open.

The bills passed by a wide margin in both the Assembly and Senate.