A public urge to go green has sown seeds in the New Jersey Legislature that may begin sprouting by the fall, forcing the attention of environmental and development lawyers into new commercial and regulatory areas.
So far this year, lawmakers have introduced more than 20 green-building bills, among them measures to encourage developers to make efficient use of natural resources and renewable energy systems in their master plans; to require affordable housing units to conform to green building standards; and to offer tax credits to developers and owners for design and construction that meet green criteria.
