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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 25, 2011

Contact: Lawrence Ragonese (609) 292-2994
Lawrence Hajna (609) 984-1795
Greg Reinert (609) 777-3305

CHRISTIE ADMINISTRATION ADVANCES COMMITMENT TO RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT; NEW JERSEY SURPASSES MILESTONE OF 10,000 SOLAR INSTALLATIONS

(11/P88) TRENTON - Advancing the Governor's commitment to develop renewable sources of energy that protect the environment, promote economic development and spur job creation, the Christie Administration today announced that New Jersey set new single-month records for installed solar capacity and number of installations in June. This brings the State's installed solar capacity to more than 380 MW generated from over 10,000 solar arrays statewide, a new milestone.

"Reaching 10,000 solar installations in New Jersey demonstrates this Administration's commitment to continue to promote and expand the state's solar industry and is a critical element of our long-term energy strategy," said Governor Chris Christie. "This ground-breaking achievement is the latest example of New Jersey's leadership as one of the largest and fastest growing solar energy markets in the United States."

New Jersey is second in the nation in both installed solar capacity and number of installations; only California has more. As of June 30, 2011, New Jersey has 10,086 solar energy array projects installed across the state providing over 380 MW of installed capacity, due in large part to the State's Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC) Registration Program.

During June 2011 alone, 520 solar projects totaling over 40 MW of capacity were installed, representing the most projects and the largest amount of solar capacity installed in one month.

Recent projects include the largest rooftop solar array in the country at the Gloucester Marine Terminal with its over 9MW and 27,528 photovoltaic rooftop panels covering 1.1 million square feet as well as Avidan Management's installation of 17,745 solar panels, which will represent 4.26 MW of solar capacity at its company-owned facility in Edison. The 4.26 MW system will produce more than 5 million kilowatt hours annually and is expected to reduce carbon emissions of approximately 3,750 tons yearly.

"Solar energy is more than just a form of clean distributed generation. These projects provide an opportunity for the involved business to improve its bottom line and grow in New Jersey, stimulating economic development," said Lee A. Solomon, President, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.

Recognizing the critical nexus of environmental and economic benefits, Governor Christie has called for increased solar projects on landfills and brownfields as an important element of his draft 2011 Energy Master Plan. Last year, he signed legislation exempting solar panels from certain land use restrictions, identifying solar energy developments as an environmentally important land use.

Already beginning to execute that commitment, the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission (NJMC) recently began construction on a project to transform a closed NJMC landfill into a productive solar farm that will generate up to 3 megawatts of renewable, cost-effective electricity. The solar installation project at the 1A Landfill in Kearny is a joint effort between the NJMC, SunDurance Energy and Public Service Electric & Gas Company (PSE&G). With the NJMC project, the grid-connected solar installation will feature 12,506 solar panels mounted on 13 acres atop the 35-acre landfill.

In June, the NJMC leased the 13 acres to SunDurance Energy, which will build the solar array. PSE&G will purchase the solar farm just prior to completion and take over the lease from SunDurance. The utility will own, operate and maintain the facility as part of its Solar 4 All™ program. The solar farm is expected to be placed in service during the fourth quarter of 2011. Installation of solar panels is expected to begin later this summer.

In addition to its solar landfill project, this year the NJMC will construct a solar canopy over its administration building parking lot. The canopy will generate approximately 20 percent of the electricity needs of the NJMC's headquarters.

New Jersey had one of the strongest growth markets for solar energy installations in 2010 and in the first quarter of 2011. For the first quarter of 2011, New Jersey installed 42 MW of solar, representing 49 percent growth over first quarter 2010. The state has primarily become a market for non-residential projects over 100 kW and most growth over the past few quarters has been in larger projects over 1 MW. In addition, New Jersey has the nation's most robust and mature SREC market, along with the best availability for long-term SREC contracts, which make project financing much easier to obtain.

"Solar energy-along with clean, in-state power generation from offshore wind, natural gas and nuclear, and new technologies such as alternatively fueled vehicles-is a key component of a greener, more affordable vision for New Jersey's energy future," said DEP Commissioner Bob Martin. "The draft 2011 Energy Master Plan reinforces the Christie Administration's commitment to promoting solar where it makes both environmental and economic sense, expanding implementation of commercial and industrial solar projects."

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