Electricity grid think tanks emphasize role of distributed energy resources in New Jersey’s energy transformation

The Center for Renewables Integration (CRI), Gridworks and GridLab recently released a study that highlights the importance of distributed energy resources (DER) for realizing New Jersey’s target of 100 percent clean energy.

The paper, The Role of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) in New Jersey’s Clean Energy Transition, finds that DER, such as local solar, storage, energy efficiency, and electric vehicles, will provide new services for utilities and customers, reduce overall energy demand and create jobs.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy released the 2019 Energy Master Plan last month, making New Jersey the ninth state to set a 100 percent clean energy target. Approximately 49 percent of the state’s electricity currently comes from fossil fuel generation.

To meet the clean energy goals, this new report lays out specific guidelines to take advantage of DER in the following areas: Integrating DER, Embracing Electrification of Buildings and Transportation, Holistic Grid Planning and Ensuring an Equity Lens in Planning.

“In 2001, the year before I became the President of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, New Jersey had six solar installations across the entire state,” Center for Renewables Integration (CRI) co-founder Jeanne Fox said. “We pioneered innovative solutions then and now have more solar installed than any state in the Northeast. The principals in this report build on our past progress and will keep New Jersey on the forefront of fighting climate change for years to come.”