New Jersey receives more than 300 MW in applications for new community solar program

A ten-MW BEMS group photo voltaic landfill mission on the Massive Hill Landfill in Southampton, New Jersey.

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) introduced it has obtained greater than 300 functions for the Neighborhood Photo Voltaic Power Program (CSEP), totaling greater than 300 MW of the latest photo voltaic capability. The Board opened the appliance window for the state’s new, everlasting group photo voltaic program on November 15, 2023, with a 225 MW capability block accessible for growth for Power 12 months (EY) 2024, representing the primary alternative for builders to take part since establishing the CSEP.

“I’m thrilled on the quantity of curiosity we now have obtained within the first 12 months of our everlasting group photo voltaic power program, a serious achievement for advancing our equitable clear power transition,” mentioned NJBPU President Christine Guhl-Sadovy. “Neighborhood photo voltaic permits those that reside in low- and moderate-income communities or can’t in any other case entry photo voltaic on account of their location, to reap the advantages of renewable power and get monetary savings on their payments.”

The CSEP builds on the success of the two-year pilot program in advancing fairness inside the photo voltaic sector. New group photo voltaic tasks shall be sited in all 4 main utility service territories, and this 12 month’s program capability will help sufficient group photo voltaic tasks to enroll about 30,000 New Jersey subscribers.

Importantly, the Board is requiring all group photo voltaic tasks serve a minimal of 51% low- to moderate-income (LMI) subscribers, as measured by capability subscribed. This is, without doubt, one of the boldest low-income necessities within the nation, making certain that the advantages of the clear power transition are realized by LMI households. The definition of LMI subscribers within the Everlasting Program stays in line with the definitions given within the Pilot Program guidelines.

Neighborhood photo voltaic subscribers shall be assured a minimal low cost on their utility invoice. Initiatives should state an assured invoice credit score low cost of a minimum of 15% of their registration, which can apply all through clients’ subscriptions. Initiatives could select to supply a larger low cost, together with particular reductions to LMI subscribers and tasks with larger reductions shall be given precedence if program capability is exceeded throughout a preliminary registration interval. Subscribers will obtain the assured low cost for the portion of their electrical energy invoice that’s coated by their group photo voltaic subscription, sometimes 90% or extra.

In the course of the preliminary CSEP registration interval, functions for the Public Service Electrical & Gasoline service territory exceeded the 129 MW of capability accessible, and no additional registrations shall be accepted till the Board allocates further capability.

The blocks for the Jersey Central Energy & Gentle, Atlantic Metropolis Electrical Firm, and Rockland Electrical Firm service territories didn’t attain capability throughout the preliminary registration interval. These blocks will reopen on December 12 for new registrations till they’re full. Approximate capacities subscribed and remaining shall be posted on the program website.

For the reason that the Governor and Legislature created the Neighborhood Photo Voltaic Pilot Program in 2018, the Board has permitted 150 tasks totaling 243 MW of capability. Thus far, 88 of these tasks, totaling 130 MW, have reached industrial operation, which offers over 16,000 New Jersey households the advantages of solar energy, together with monetary financial savings.

Residents concerned with subscribing to a group photo voltaic mission could search the Board’s Community Solar Project Finder for tasks that serve their space.

The CSEP permits group photo voltaic tasks of no larger than 5 MW on rooftops, carports and canopies over impervious surfaces, contaminated websites, and landfills and sure our bodies of water corresponding to water remedy reservoirs and dredge ponds. The Board anticipates opening a second utility interval for at the very least an extra 225 MW in EY 2025, which begins on June 1, 2024.