The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) has announced that the $5 million Urban Heat Island (UHI) Mitigation Grant Program is officially open and accepting applications.
Donor Name: New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
State: New Jersey
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 12/15/2025
Size of the Grant: More than $1 million
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The program is designed to help New Jersey’s most vulnerable communities combat extreme heat and rising energy costs.
Urban heat islands occur in cities and densely developed areas where concrete, pavement, and buildings retain heat and green spaces are limited, making these areas significantly hotter than nearby rural regions, especially during summer months. Cities such as Newark, Trenton, Camden, and Jersey City are among the Northeast’s most intense urban heat islands, often registering temperatures 5 degrees to 20 degrees hotter than surrounding areas. This phenomenon not only increases energy bills and health risks but also places additional stress on power grids.
Categories
For Fiscal Year 2026, the UHI Mitigation Program, funded by the New Jersey Clean Energy Fund, provides grants in three categories:
- Comprehensive UHI Interventions: Up to $1 million each for two major neighborhood revitalization projects, including expanded tree canopy, green infrastructure, cool pavements, smart-misting systems, and other cooling infrastructure.
- Cooling the Built Environment: Up to $500,000 each for four upgrades to public buildings and cooling centers, with features like cool roofs, green roofs, geothermal heat pumps, and battery storage to create resilience hubs — especially vital for communities with a high percentage of renters.
- Urban Micro climate Interventions: Up to $50,000 each for 20 community-led projects such as shaded bus stops, community gardens, and water stations. All projects must be located on public land or in publicly accessible spaces
Eligibility Criteria
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to provide applicants with additional support, Sustainable Jersey, of the Sustainability Institute of the College of New Jersey and NJBPU are also announcing a series of informational Zoom drop-in sessions to assist municipalities, nonprofit organizations, and community groups.
For more information, visit NJBPU.
