New Jersey BPU launches new community solar finder tool

Published on March 01, 2023 by Dave Kovaleski


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The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) has introduced a new online tool that allows residents to search for community solar projects by zip code.

The New Jersey Community Solar Project Finder, made possible through a partnership with Sustainable Jersey, will be housed on NJBPU’s website.

“Our Community Solar Program represents one of the Murphy Administration’s greatest clean energy successes, especially with its focus on providing access to renewable energy and its benefits to low-income and environmental justice communities. Now that many projects have come online, interested homeowners and renters can use the tool to find out where Community Solar projects are operating so that they can participate,” NJBPU President Joseph Fiordaliso said. “I would like to thank Sustainable Jersey for assisting in the development and hosting this very important online tool.”

New Jersey’s Community Solar Program allows those who rent, live in an apartment or multi-family building, cannot afford the cost of a solar installation, or cannot accommodate solar panels on their roof to obtain solar power.

“The benefits of subscribing to a community solar project are two-fold: you’ll save money and will be supporting New Jersey’s transition to cleaner energy. Community solar projects also create an economic pathway for adding solar to more rooftops, landfills, and other sites than was previously possible. Sustainable Jersey’s partnership with NJBPU on this project finder tool will make it easier for more residents to participate,” Randall Solomon, director of Sustainable Jersey, said.

Currently, 24 community solar projects are in operation in the state. In the first two years of the pilot, the board approved 150 applications for community solar projects representing 240 MW of solar energy capacity. More than half of that amount will serve low- and moderate-income communities.

Based on that success, the board is taking steps to make the pilot program permanent. The proposal for the permanent program is targeted to be released in the first quarter of 2023.

The board will host a webinar on March 8 at 1:00 p.m. EST to demonstrate the New Jersey Community Solar Project Finder. Contact the NJBPU for details on how to register.