Whereas, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities ("NJBPU"), through its Community Energy Plan Grant Program (Year 3), awarded the Borough of Somerville a grant in the amount of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000), Grant Agreement No. 2025-CEP-Somerville-00082, with a grant award period of August 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, for the purpose of developing a Community Energy Plan; and

Whereas, the Borough Council previously authorized acceptance of said grant and directed the development of a Community Energy Plan for the Borough; and

Whereas, the Borough engaged T&M Associates (Gail E. Lalla and Daniel L. Hauben) to assist in the preparation of the Community Energy Plan in accordance with the NJBPU Community Energy Plan Grant Workplan Template; and

Whereas, the Borough's Environmental Commission, assigned a subcommittee worked with the Borough’s Director of Communications to spearhead the community outreach and public input effort, integral to the development of the Plan; and

Whereas, a public hearing was conducted at the Borough Council meeting on April 20, 2026, at which T & M Associates and members of the Environmental Commission had a presentation that was streamed via YouTube in which members of the public were afforded the opportunity to review and comment on the selected strategies and were further afforded several weeks following the public hearing to comment; and

Whereas, the Community Energy Plan identifies the following seven (7) strategies for consideration and implementation, which the Borough Council may update or refine upon conclusion of the public comment period: