Newsroom & Public Notices
New Jersey Board of Public Utilities Launches New Community Solar Finder
| For Immediate Release: | Contact: Peter Peretzman |
| Date: 02/27/2023 | 609-900-5626 |
New Jersey’s Community Solar Pilot Program has been extremely successful and the Board is taking steps to make the pilot program permanent. It is anticipated that the straw proposal for the permanent program will be released in the first quarter of 2023. In the first two years of the program, the Board approved 150 applications for community solar projects representing 240 MW of solar energy capacity, more than half of which will serve low- and moderate-income communities.
“Our Community Solar Program represents one of the Murphy Administration’s greatest clean energy successes, especially with its focus on providing access to renewable energy and its benefits to low-income and environmental justice communities. Now that many projects have come online, interested homeowners and renters can use the tool to find out where Community Solar projects are operating so that they can participate,” said NJBPU President Joseph L. Fiordaliso. “I would like to thank Sustainable Jersey for assisting in the development and hosting this very important online tool.”
New Jersey’s Community Solar Program allows those who rent, lack control of their roof, live in an apartment or multi-family building, or cannot afford the cost of a solar installation to benefit from the cost savings and reduced carbon footprint of solar power. To date there are 24 community solar projects that have come online and are in operation.
“The benefits of subscribing to a community solar project are two-fold: you’ll save money and will be supporting New Jersey’s transition to cleaner energy. Community solar projects also create an economic pathway for adding solar to more rooftops, landfills and other sites than was previously possible. Sustainable Jersey’s partnership with NJBPU on this project finder tool will make it easier for more residents to participate,” said Randall Solomon, director of Sustainable Jersey.
For more information, residents can join a webinar on March 8, 2023 from 1:00 to 2:30 pm that will include a demonstration of the New Jersey Community Solar Project Finder: Webinar Registration Link. In addition, Sustainable Jersey offers free community solar resources such as the Municipally Supported Community Solar certification action and a Sustainable Jersey Community Solar Guidebook for Municipalities.
About New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program (NJCEP)
NJCEP, established on January 22, 2003, in accordance with the Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act (EDECA), provides financial and other incentives to the State's residential customers, businesses and schools that install high-efficiency or renewable energy technologies, thereby reducing energy usage, lowering customers' energy bills and reducing environmental impacts. The program is authorized and overseen by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU), and its website is www.NJCleanEnergy.com.
About the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU)
NJBPU is a state agency and regulatory authority mandated to ensure safe, adequate and proper utility services at reasonable rates for New Jersey customers. Critical services regulated by NJBPU include natural gas, electricity, water, wastewater, telecommunications and cable television. The Board has general oversight and responsibility for monitoring utility service, responding to consumer complaints, and investigating utility accidents. To find out more about NJBPU, visit our website at www.nj.gov/bpu.
About Sustainable Jersey
Sustainable Jersey provides tools, training and financial incentives to support communities as they pursue sustainability programs. Sustainable Jersey participants (municipalities and schools) have successfully implemented and documented over 23,467 sustainability actions. Sustainable Jersey has provided over $7.2 million in grants to municipalities, school districts and schools for community-based projects that create healthy and sustainable communities in New Jersey.
