Hillsborough Earns 8th Silver-Level Sustainable Jersey Award

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ - Hillsborough Township was recently honored for its ongoing sustainability efforts in 2022 with its eighth silver-level certification in a row from Sustainable Jersey, municipal officials announced earlier this month.

Notable actions for which Hillsborough received credits toward the 2022 distinction include:

• Public Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure for its municipal complex charging station
• Mayor’s Wellness program
• Buy Fresh Buy Local Programs with Hillsborough Harvest
• Reusable Bag Education program
• Emergency Communications Plan, and improvements to Public Engagement in Municipal Government in Planning & Zoning

“We are proud of our ongoing efforts to achieve Sustainable Certification and thank our staff members and the volunteers who participate and contribute to the overall success of the program,” stated Mayor Shawn Lipani.

As one of 81 municipalities to attain certification in 2022, Hillsborough submitted documentation to show it had completed a balance of the required sustainability actions, meeting a minimum of 350 “action points” for various sustainability initiatives.

In 2022, Hillsborough earned 615 total points from 54 total actions, placing the township on the fifth in the ranking of highest total points across the state.

In addition, each participating community had to establish a green team and select at least three out of 14 priority action options that include climate adaptation, flooding risk, community equity and diversity profile, diversity on boards and commissions, energy efficiency for municipal facilities, energy tracking and management, fleet inventory, green business recognition program, municipal carbon footprint and more.

The certified towns were announced at the Sustainable Jersey Annual Luncheon on Nov. 15, 2022, in Atlantic City at the New Jersey State League of Municipalities Conference.

Since 2009, Hillsborough has earned a total of 11 Sustainable Jersey certifications, making Hillsborough the most certified town in Somerset County and the second-most certified town in New Jersey.