Trenton, NJ — The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) made announcements regarding community solar at today’s meeting that will expand the program to bring improved solar access to all New Jerseyans. BPU President Joseph Fiordaliso notified attendees that the Community Solar Pilot Year 2 project selections will be announced no later than November 2021 and that following Pilot Year 2, there will be a rapid deployment of a permanent program. NJ BPU is also allocating 1125 MW total of community solar capacity through 2026, sending strong market signals to the community solar industry and guaranteeing the market capacity that is needed to serve more New Jersey residents in a timely manner. Following is a statement from Leslie Elder, Mid-Atlantic Regional Director for Coalition for Community Solar Access:
“We appreciate the statements by BPU Board President Fiordaliso concerning community solar at this morning’s meeting and couldn’t agree more that community solar represents a critical element of New Jersey’s clean energy revolution. We look forward to the forthcoming Community Solar Pilot Year 2 announcements and the rapid implementation of the last year of the pilot program. We are also excited to work with BPU staff to build a permanent program in a manner that delivers more solar energy to overburdened communities, provides economic benefits to local jurisdictions, creates jobs, and ensures all state residents have access to clean and renewable energy to lower their energy costs.”