New Jersey Board of Public Utilities Launches New Community Solar Finder

Online Tool Allows Residents to Search by Zip Code for Community Solar Projects

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) has launched the New Jersey Community Solar Project Finder. This online tool allows New Jersey residents to search by zip code for community solar projects serving their community. NJBPU is partnering with Sustainable Jersey on this initiative and they will host the Community Solar Project Finder on their website.

New Jersey’s Community Solar Pilot Program has been extremely successful and the Board is taking steps to make the pilot program permanent. It is anticipated that the straw proposal for the permanent program will be released in the first quarter of 2023. In the first two years of the program, the Board approved 150 applications for community solar projects representing 240 MW of solar energy capacity, more than half of which will serve low- and moderate-income communities.

“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,” said NJBPU President Joseph L. Fiordaliso. “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, lack control of their roof, live in an apartment or multi-family building, or cannot afford the cost of a solar installation to benefit from the cost savings and reduced carbon footprint of solar power. To date there are 24 community solar projects that have come online and are in operation.

“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,” said Randall Solomon, director of Sustainable Jersey.

For more information, residents can join a webinar on March 8, 2023 from 1:00 to 2:30 pm that will include a demonstration of the New Jersey Community Solar Project Finder: Webinar Registration Link. In addition, Sustainable Jersey offers free community solar resources such as the Municipally Supported Community Solar certification action and a Sustainable Jersey Community Solar Guidebook for Municipalities.