The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) yesterday approved three initiatives to expand clean energy generation in the state, improve grid reliability and control electricity costs for New Jersey homes and businesses.
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill
NJBPU opened incentives for solar and battery storage projects, opened a second round of storage requests, promoted the Competitive Solar Incentive (CSI) Program, and approved the nation’s largest expansion of a state-run community solar program.
“Solar energy and battery storage are the fastest and most cost-effective ways to build new electricity generation. Today’s actions advance Governor Sherrill’s clean energy goals while continuing the administration’s commitment to balance affordability and advancing clean, in-state energy sources,” said NJBPU President Christine Guhl-Sadovy.
NJBPU approved incentives for three battery storage projects under the first Garden State Energy Storage Program (GSESP) solicitation, with a total capacity of 355 MW – slightly more than the 350 MW minimum required by state law.
The winning projects are Woods Landing Storage (200 MW, Sayreville, Middlesex County), Two Rivers Energy Storage (150 MW, Ridgefield, Bergen County) and North America Energy Storage Corp. (5 MW, Bordentown, Burlington County). These battery projects will provide flexible, on-demand power to PJM’s regional power grid, alleviating the capacity shortage that has contributed to higher electricity prices across the region. NJBPU expects these projects to generate cost savings of more than $169 million during operation.
The board also launched the first phase of the second tranche of GSESP projects, opening a second competitive application for 645 MW of additional storage capacity. Gov. Mikie Sherrill issued an executive order on Jan. 20 directing this tranche to be opened within 45 days of signing. Once completed, these projects will put the state on track to achieve 1 GW of transmission-scale storage, with a larger goal of 2 GW by 2030.
Solar and storage projects are eligible for this second tranche of projects, as are standalone storage.
Competitive solar incentive
The third round of applications for New Jersey’s Competitive Solar Incentive has selected three projects with a total capacity of 24.12 MW. These projects will receive renewable solar energy credits (SRECs). The winning projects are Court at Deptford Solar (4.1 MW, Gloucester County), Deptford Landfill Solar (10 MW, Gloucester County) and North Jersey District Water Supply Commission (10 MW, Passaic County).
When completed, the North Jersey District Water Supply Commission project at Wanaque Reservoir would be the largest floating solar facility in the country.
NJBPU will open the fourth CSI project application on March 11, with bids due by the end of April 24. New in this round, the board is also looking for solar energy projects with a capacity of 20 MW or more.
Expanding community solar
NJBPU approved a 3 GW expansion of New Jersey’s Community Solar Energy Program – the largest capacity allocation in state history – enough to deliver clean energy savings to approximately 450,000 subscribers.
Project registrations will be accepted until December 31, 2029, or until all 3,000 MW are subscribed. To date, New Jersey’s community solar program has delivered more than $70 million in bill credits and $14 million in net savings to more than 37,000 subscribers across 162 operating projects totaling 228 MW. NJBPU stated in a press release that this expansion will build on that progress, expand access to clean energy and focus on construction projects at locations such as landfills.
Gov. Sherrill signed two executive orders on her first day in office. The first freeze on interest rate increases on energy costs and the order for utilities to grant customers home loans. The second executive order directed the NJBPU to expand the state’s solar and battery storage programs.
News release from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
