The United States filed lawsuit against the Township of Morris, New Jersey,  asserting that the Township’s 2022 ordinance banning natural gas, propane gas, and fuel oil infrastructure and appliances in certain new apartment complex or apartment-style housing was preempted by the Energy Policy and Conservation Act. The U.S. asked the federal district court for the District of New Jersey to declare that the law is preempted and therefore void and unenforceable and to enjoin defendants from enforcing or attempting to enforce the ordinance.

United States' preemption challenge to Township of Morris, New Jersey's 2022 ordinance banning natural gas, propane gas, and fuel oil infrastructure and appliances in certain new apartment complex or apartment-style housing.

United States v. Township of Morris

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United States Filed Preemption Challenge to New Jersey Town’s Building Electrification Ordinance

Filed

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Replacing technologies that burn fossil fuels directly with alternatives powered by electricity.

Oil is a combustible liquid fossil fuel composed mainly of hydrocarbons, occurring as crude oil and refined into petroleum products such as petrol, diesel and kerosene.

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Activities that involve planning, designing and building infrastructure, residential, and commercial structures.

United States Filed Preemption Challenge to New Jersey Town’s Building Electrification Ordinance

Policy instrument

Fossil fuel

Economic sector

Adaptation/resilience

Finance