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The Genesis Project™ Awarded $1 Million NJ Legislative Grant to

Advance Clean Energy and Environmental Justice

Faith-led green theology initiative launches comprehensive planning effort to reduce carbon emissions

and empower underserved communities

 

Editor’s Note: Interviews with Rev. Danté R. Quick, Ph.D., are available upon request. Filming and photography can be arranged from the church’s 26,000-square-foot rooftop, the proposed site of The Genesis Project™ solar installation.

SOMERSET, N.J. (July 14, 2025) — The Genesis Project™, a transformative environmental justice initiative of First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens (FBCLG), has received a $1 million NJ legislative grant that will be administered by NJ Department of Community Affairs (NJDCA). This funding supports the development of a comprehensive clean energy and sustainability plan led by a bold green theology vision to address longstanding environmental and economic inequities in Franklin and New Brunswick.

The Genesis Project™ aims to combat energy burden, environmental degradation and economic disparity through a faith-driven approach to sustainability. Grounded in green theology—a belief that environmental stewardship is a sacred mandate—the initiative seeks to create a replicable model that unites clean energy with social equity. The planning grant will lay the foundation for a community solar program, EV infrastructure and youth training efforts that reduce the carbon footprint while uplifting families in historically overburdened communities.

Commencing in January 2026, the 18-month planning grant enables The Genesis Project™ to:

  • Create a detailed project plan that incorporates stakeholder input, identifies energy cost reduction strategies and integrates solar energy for community access
  • Design the solar and EV charging station infrastructure, including construction planning, equipment needs and maintenance protocols
  • Develop a comprehensive communications and engagement strategy to ensure impacted communities are informed, involved and prioritized
  • Launch the solar pilot and install EV charging stations upon plan approval
  • Establish a youth-focused entrepreneurial program to train future business leaders in clean energy and sustainability sectors 

“The Black Church has long stood on the front lines of justice—fighting for civil rights, educational equity and economic advancement,” said the Rev. Danté R. Quick, Ph.D., senior pastor of FBCLG.

“With The Genesis Project™, we continue that legacy by addressing environmental injustice and lifting the burden of energy poverty. We are building a future that honors both our faith and our responsibility to our neighbors.”

New Jersey’s own data reflects the need for bold action. In Franklin Township and New Brunswick— where FBCLG is rooted—residents face disproportionate environmental stressors, including higher exposure to ozone, air toxics, heavy traffic pollution and contaminated sites.

According to NJ Department of Environmental Protection data, both areas exceed the 50th percentile in cumulative stressors for overburdened communities, including limited green space, lead exposure risks and a lack of clean air and water.

State Assemblyman Joseph Danielsen, D-17th District, who championed the proposal during the state’s budget process, praised the church’s leadership and vision.

“This is the most significant budget resolution I’ve ever submitted,” Danielsen said. “The Genesis Project™ puts our values into action—climate action, community empowerment and economic opportunity. It’s a model for what’s possible when innovation, conviction and public policy come together to serve the people.”

The Genesis Project™ is a multifaceted initiative, and this planning grant supports the development of only a portion of its full scope. The long-term plan also includes:

  • A youth farming and entrepreneurship program to rebuild Black agricultural traditions and address “high-quality food deserts”
  • Expanded scholarships through Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) that double the church’s capacity to support students
  • Farm animal therapy to support mental wellness among youth

The Genesis Project™ is a partnership between FBCLG and technical experts, educators and community leaders committed to environmental justice and clean energy access.

To learn more about The Genesis Project™, visit https://fbcsomerset.com or contact 732-828-2009.

About First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens

First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens (FBCLG) is a thriving faith community of more than 6,000 disciples of Christ throughout the nation and abroad. With a strong emphasis on faith formation, Christian education, worship and stewardship in its broadest sense, FBCLG demonstrates how Christian principles remain deeply relevant in addressing mental, emotional, physical and financial wellness.

Located in Somerset, N.J., FBCLG serves communities across Somerset and Middlesex counties while also responding to urgent global needs. Its ministry includes preparing and delivering more than 400 hot meals each week to seniors and people with disabilities, distributing more than 400 backpacks with school supplies each year, hosting an annual Clean Slate Expungement Clinic, offering academic tutoring programs, and organizing theological, cultural and wellness events led by experts and lay leaders. FBCLG has also responded to national crises, including coordinating the delivery of three 18- wheeler trucks of aid to Jackson, Mississippi during the 2022 water crisis.

To learn more, visit fbcsomerset.com.

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