September 29, 2021
Thanks to the launch of the Community Solar Energy Pilot Program in 2019, New Jersey residents can now avail of all the benefits of solar without having to install solar panels at their own property. A community solar subscription offers an alternative route to solar savings for those who are unable to install solar at their property for any reason.
The New Jersey Community Solar Energy Pilot Program
The Community Solar Energy Pilot Program enables NJ utility customers to participate in a solar energy project which is not installed at their property. Residents of the Garden State can sign up for a nearby community solar project and receive bill credits proportional to their subscribed share of the solar array. The electricity generated by the community solar project is shared among multiple subscribers, allowing participants to receive the benefits of solar energy even if they are unable to install panels at their own property. This egalitarian solar model leads to utility bill savings for subscribers. A brochure further detailing how community solar works in New Jersey is available to download here.
How Much Can You Save With New Jersey Community Solar?
As noted above, community solar subscribers in New Jersey will receive a monthly utility bill credit proportional to their share of the solar farm. The exact amount saved will vary between programs and can change on a month-to-month basis. However, across the course of a year, New Jersey community solar participants can expect to save between 5% and 10% on their typical electricity costs.
Year 2 of the New Jersey Community Solar Energy Pilot Program
The deadline for Year 2 applications has now passed. Year 2 Applications to the NJ Community Solar Energy Pilot Program were due on Friday, February 5, 2021 at 5 p.m. EST via the NJBPU e-Filing portal. In April 2021, the NJPBU announced that it had received a record number of applications for Year 2 of the Program, with 410 applicants looking to participate. These applications are equivalent to 800.5 MW of total capacity and, significantly, all but one of these projects have committed to serving low- to moderate-income (LMI) communities.
This record number of applicants will provide savings for LMI households and equitable access to renewable energy across the state, while also contributing significantly to NJ’s goal of 100% clean energy by 2050. Full guidelines and information concerning Year 2 of the Pilot Program are available here on the New Jersey Clean Energy Program website.
New Jersey Community Solar Background
Back in May of 2018, Governor Phil Murphy signed A3723/S2314, mandating the creation of the aforementioned Community Solar Energy Pilot Program. On January 17, 2019, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) adopted rules to establish the Program. With an ambitious renewable portfolio standard (RPS) targeting 100% clean energy by 2050, New Jersey could become a leading solar state, particularly in the community solar sector of the industry.
New Jersey Community Solar FAQ
For an in-depth list of frequently asked questions regarding the New Jersey Community Solar Pilot Program, please visit the New Jersey Clean Energy website. Furthermore, if you have a question which is not answered in the online FAQ, you can email communitysolar@njcleanenergy.com with your query and staff will do their best to answer it on the FAQ page. If you have already submitted a question and you don’t see an answer in the FAQ, it will likely be added in a future update.
New Jersey Successor Solar Incentive (SuSI) Program & Community Solar
The New Jersey Successor Solar Incentive (SuSI) Program is the new solar incentive program for the state, replacing the Transition Incentive (TI) Program. Under the SuSI Program, incentives will be available for community solar projects throughout New Jersey. Non-LMI community solar projects up to 5 MW are worth $70/SREC-II, while LMI community solar projects up to 5 MW are worth $90/SREC-II.
Interested in New Jersey community solar? Reach out to YSG today. YSG will identify the ideal community solar project for your needs and guide you through the entire subscription process to ensure the biggest savings on your utility bills. Call the office at 212.389.9215 or send us an email to learn more.
YSG Solar is a project development company responsible for commoditizing energy infrastructure projects. We work with long-term owners and operators to provide clean energy assets with stable, predictable cash flows. YSG's market focus is distributed generation and utility-scale projects located within North America.
Sources:
https://njcleanenergy.com/renewable-energy/programs/community-solar
https://www.bpu.state.nj.us/bpu/newsroom/2020/approved/20210406.html