In celebration of Earth Day, New Jersey Resources (NYSE: NJR), the parent company of New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG), announced a $35,000 donation through its Coastal Climate Initiative (CCI) to support The Nature Conservancy’s (TNC) Municipal Match-Making for Marsh Restoration and Community Resilience program. The goal of this multiphase project is to support TNC’s 2030 goals to restore and improve management of approximately 2,000 acres of salt marsh and reduce climate impacts to more than 100,000 coastal residents along the Jersey Shore.
“In recognition of Earth Day, New Jersey Resources is pleased to support The Nature Conservancy’s vital restoration work and our shared commitment to strengthening our communities,” said Steve Westhoven, president and CEO of New Jersey Resources. “Protecting New Jersey’s coastal ecosystems and communities aligns with our efforts to enhance environmental stewardship through our Coastal Climate Initiative.”
NJR’s donation will directly support Phase 1, during which TNC will survey approximately 20-25 municipalities in Monmouth and Ocean counties to identify marsh nourishment opportunities and local dredging needs to promote restoration efforts and improve resilience. From there, TNC will convene meetings and site visits to assess opportunities for identified communities to use dredge material for marsh replenishment.
“When we think of the Jersey Shore, gorgeous oceanfront beaches come to mind first; but our salt marshes are in many ways even more important,” said Barbara Brummer, TNC’s New Jersey state director. “These habitats are literally nature’s nursery, where marine life reproduces. They provide recreation space, drive local economies and protect homes and businesses from storm waves and flooding — we cannot afford to lose such critical benefits. TNC is grateful to New Jersey Resources for supporting our efforts to restore and strengthen local coastal wetlands, the unsung heroes of the Jersey Shore.”
Future phases of this project will support TNC’s 2030 goals to restore and improve management of salt marshes to reduce climate impacts along the Jersey Shore. Moreover, it supports NJR’s commitment to strengthening the state’s coastal communities.
New Jersey’s salt marshes are being threatened by rising sea levels, increasing storm-driven waves and diminishing natural sediment, which is necessary to support healthy fish and wildlife habitats. Improving sediment management and marsh replenishment is critical to enhancing the resilience of natural ecosystems as well as local shoreline communities.
NJR launched the CCI in 2021 to advance environmental restoration, preservation and stewardship opportunities in our coastal communities and beyond. This includes providing $2 million in funding over a five-year period to support projects and programs to improve climate change resiliency and ecosystem services, community engagement and education. Over the past three years, NJR has committed nearly 70% of that funding to support vital projects that improve coastal ecology, community resiliency and nature-based solutions that help protect against the effects of climate change.
Visit NJRsustainability.com to learn more about NJR’s sustainability efforts and to read its 2025 Corporate Sustainability Report, which highlights details of previous CCI donations.
About New Jersey Resources:
New Jersey Resources (NYSE: NJR) is a diversified energy infrastructure and energy services company headquartered in Wall, New Jersey.
NJR is composed of five primary businesses:
- New Jersey Natural Gas, NJR’s principal subsidiary, operates and maintains natural gas transportation and distribution infrastructure to serve customers in New Jersey’s Monmouth, Ocean, Morris, Middlesex, Sussex and Burlington counties.
- Clean Energy Ventures invests in, owns and operates commercial solar projects, providing residential and commercial customers with low-carbon solutions.
- Energy Services manages a diversified portfolio of natural gas transportation and storage assets and provides physical natural gas services and customized energy solutions to customers across North America.
- Storage and Transportation serves customers from local distributors and producers to electric generators and wholesale marketers through its ownership of Leaf River Energy Center and the Adelphia Gateway Pipeline, as well as our 50% equity ownership in the Steckman Ridge natural gas storage facility.
- Home Services provides service contracts as well as heating, central air conditioning, water heaters, standby generators and other indoor and outdoor comfort products to residential homes throughout New Jersey.
NJR and its over 1,300 employees are committed to helping customers save energy and money by promoting conservation and encouraging efficiency through Conserve to Preserve® and initiatives such as SAVEGREEN™.
For more information about NJR:
Visit njresources.com.
Follow us on Twitter @NJNaturalGas.
“Like” us on facebook.com/NewJerseyNaturalGas.
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