Mercer Times

Governor Murphy today signed A4782/S3123 to further strengthen New Jersey’s community solar program – expanding access to clean energy and lowering utility costs for New Jersey households. The Community Solar Energy Program (CSEP) allows individuals without the ability to install solar on their rooftops to access the benefits of solar energy, including significant energy savings. The bill simplifies the CSEP application process, provides subscribers with a more seamless consolidated energy bill, and makes more capacity available to develop community solar across the state.

"I am proud to continue expanding our nation-leading Community Solar Energy Program while eliminating barriers for prospective applicants," said Governor Murphy. "All New Jersey families deserve access to affordable and clean energy, regardless of their zip code. This is another critical step forward in our pursuit of a stronger, fairer, and greener future."

"Advancing our community solar goals will help ensure more New Jersey residents have access to clean energy," said NJ Board of Public Utilities President Christine Guhl-Sadovy. "Under Governor Murphy’s leadership, the BPU’s community solar program has been a national model and today’s action will continue the success of the program by bringing the benefits of solar to more people while lowering utility bills for participants."

"Our Community Solar Energy Pilot Program was an immense success, outpacing expectations and delivering rate savings to thousands of New Jersey households," said Senator Bob Smith, Chair of the Senate Environment and Energy Committee.

"The Community Solar Energy Program isn’t just about achieving our clean energy goals - it is also about enabling households that ordinarily would not be able to reap the benefits of solar power to do so," said Senator Linda Greenstein, Vice-Chair of the Senate Environment and Energy Committee.

"With the passage of this bill, we are signing off on a greener future and energy equity for our communities," said Assemblyman John F. McKeon.

"Today we are taking another step towards a more sustainable future," said Assemblyman Daniel R. Benson.

"The number of New Jersey municipalities with community solar projects continues to grow," said Assemblyman Raj Mukherji.

"Since the time of Thomas Edison, New Jersey has played a crucial role in the evolution of electricity," said Assemblyman Shaun Keegan, CEO and Co-Founder of Asbury Park-based Solar Landscape.

"NJBPU’s community solar program – from its infancy as a pilot project to its now permanent status – has been a clean energy home run for New Jersey," said Doug O’Malley, Director of Environment New Jersey.

"We want to thank Governor Murphy and the New Jersey Legislature for their commitment to our clean energy future," said Ed Potosnak, Executive Director of NJ League of Conservation Voters.

"Today, Governor Murphy solidifies New Jersey’s community solar program as a national leader in the fight for an equitable clean energy future," said Elowyn Corby, Mid-Atlantic Regional Director for Vote Solar.