TRENTON— Governor Phil Murphy today signed A4782/S3123 to further strengthen New Jersey’s community solar program – expanding access to clean energy and lowering utility costs for New Jersey households. The Community Solar Energy Program (CSEP) allows individuals without the ability to install solar on their rooftops to access the benefits of solar energy, including significant energy savings. This bill simplifies the CSEP application process, provides CSEP subscribers with a more seamless consolidated energy bill, and makes more capacity available to develop community solar across the state.

“I am proud to continue expanding our nation-leading Community Solar Energy Program while eliminating barriers for prospective applicants,” said Governor Murphy. “All New Jersey families deserve access to affordable and clean energy, regardless of their zip code. This is another critical step forward in our pursuit of a stronger, fairer, and greener future.”

“Advancing our community solar goals will help ensure more New Jersey residents have access to clean energy,” said NJ Board of Public Utilities President Christine Guhl-Sadovy. “Under Governor Murphy’s leadership the BPU’s community solar program has been a national model and today’s action will continue the success of the program by bringing the benefits of solar to more people while lowering utility bills for participants.”

“Our Community Solar Energy Pilot Program was an immense success, outpacing expectations and delivering rate savings to thousands of New Jersey households,” said Senator Bob Smith, Chair of the Senate Environment and Energy Committee. “The new permanent Community Solar Energy Program will increase the energy procurement goals, extend financial savings to thousands more families, and support New Jersey’s transition to clean energy.”

“The Community Solar Energy Program isn’t just about achieving our clean energy goals - it is also about enabling households that ordinarily would not be able to reap the benefits of solar power to do so, such as renters or families whose homes cannot support solar panels,” said Senator Linda Greenstein, Vice-Chair of the Senate Environment and Energy Committee. “Families that choose to participate can annually save hundreds on their utility bills, and with the Governor’s signature, those savings will be felt by thousands more across New Jersey.”

“With the passage of this bill, we are signing off on a greener future and energy equity for our communities. Rising temperatures, sea levels and precipitation levels underscore the undeniable impact of climate change within our state,” said Assemblyman John F. McKeon. “The success of community solar in nearby towns is evident, and this legislation will extend opportunities to enjoy cleaner air and lower energy costs for thousands of New Jerseyans.”

“Today we are taking another step towards a more sustainable future. Community solar provides a chance for New Jerseyans to access solar energy without being constrained by the structure of their residences,” said Assemblyman Daniel R. Benson. “New Jersey’s community solar program has been met with success, and this legislation will broaden the reach of renewable energy initiatives to more residents.”

“The number of New Jersey municipalities with community solar projects continues to grow, and this will enable even more residents to support clean energy," said Assemblyman Raj Mukherji. “The community solar program allows customers to receive credit on their electricity bills for their share of power produced, making this a win-win for residents and the environment.”

“Since the time of Thomas Edison, New Jersey has played a crucial role in the evolution of electricity, and thanks to the Murphy Administration, we will continue that momentum and innovation by putting community solar installations on commercial rooftops and delivering the energy to low/moderate-income residents at a substantial discount,” said Shaun Keegan, CEO and Co-Founder of Asbury Park-based Solar Landscape. “This model began in New Jersey and, with Congressman Frank Pallone’s support of the Inflation Reduction Act, is now being duplicated across the country. Rooftop community solar can be built quickly, preserves precious open space, creates good union jobs, and generates power closer to where it will be used. These advancements have allowed us to develop millions of square feet nationally, including with global logistics real estate leader Prologis, which is partnering with Solar Landscape to pursue projects on more than 30 million square feet of their buildings.”

“NJBPU’s community solar program – from its infancy as a pilot project to its now permanent status – has been a clean energy home run for New Jersey. There are hundreds of thousands of residents that want to go solar, but barriers to adoption stopped them in the past – and now it will be even easier,” said Doug O’Malley, Director of Environment New Jersey. “The sleeker permanent community solar program – with its increased capacity and streamlined application process – will bring more solar for all residents and real savings. Community solar is an obvious solution for New Jersey to generate more in-state clean renewable energy and we thank Gov. Murphy, the Legislature and the NJBPU for allowing more residents to go solar.”

“We want to thank Governor Murphy and the New Jersey Legislature for their commitment to our clean energy future by expanding the money-saving and successful Community Solar program up to ten times what it is today. This bill will increase access for low-to-moderate income residents who will benefit from solar even when they can’t put panels on their roof as a renter or in a townhouse or condo,” said Ed Potosnak, Executive Director of NJ League of Conservation Voters. “In addition to the energy bill savings community solar will bring, it will also provide good, family-sustaining jobs. On-the-job training can be acquired to gain entry into this exciting industry, which is one of the fastest growing sectors of the U.S. clean energy economy.”

“Today, Governor Murphy solidifies New Jersey’s community solar program as a national leader in the fight for an equitable clean energy future.” said Elowyn Corby, Mid-Atlantic Regional Director for Vote Solar. “We’re grateful to the state leaders and community advocates, especially those representing environmental justice communities, who’ve worked hard to get us here. When we commit to people-centered solutions like community solar, we can rise to the challenge of climate change while simultaneously building a more just and equitable society – now and for generations to come.