Signed by Governor Phil Murphy

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with House amendments and pass a bill that requires the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to revise community solar program targets.

Highlights:

• Requires the Board of Public Utilities to establish a “Community Solar Energy Pilot Program” which would allow customers of an electric public utility to participate in solar programs not located on their property for a credit to their electric bill equal to the electricity generated attributed to the customer's participation in the Solar Energy Project (Sec. 5).

• Requires the Board of Public Utilities to establish rules and regulations (Sec. 5):

• A capacity limit for solar projects to a maximum of five megawatts per project;

• An annual capacity limit for all solar projects under the pilot program;

• Geographical limitations for solar energy projects and customers;

• Minimum number of participating customers for each solar energy project;

• The value of the credit on each participating customer's energy bill; 

• Standards to limit the land use impact;

• Provision of access to Solar Energy Projects for Low Income Customers;

• Standards to ensure the ability of residential and commercial customers to participate in solar energy projects;

• Standards for connection to the distribution system of an electric public utility and;

• Provisions to minimize the impacts to the distribution system of an electric public utility.

• Requires the Board of Public Utilities to convert the Community Solar Energy Pilot Program into a permanent program within 36 months of the adoption of rules and regulations (Sec. 5).

• Requires the Board of Public Utilities to open registration for 3,000 megawatts of solar energy projects by October 1, 2025, and complete registration and credits by December 31, 2029 (Sec. 5).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that requires the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to revise community solar program targets.

Highlights:

• Requires the Board of Public Utilities to establish a “Community Solar Energy Pilot Program” which would allow customers of an electric public utility to participate in solar programs not located on their property for a credit to their electric bill equal to the electricity generated attributed to the customer's participation in the Solar Energy Project (Sec. 5).

• Requires the Board of Public Utilities to establish rules and regulations (Sec. 5):

• A capacity limit for solar projects to a maximum of five megawatts per project;

• An annual capacity limit for all solar projects under the pilot program;

• Geographical limitations for solar energy projects and customers;

• Minimum number of participating customers for each solar energy project;

• The value of the credit on each participating customer's energy bill; 

• Standards to limit the land use impact;

• Provision of access to Solar Energy Projects for Low Income Customers;

• Standards to ensure the ability of residential and commercial customers to participate in solar energy projects;

• Standards for connection to the distribution system of an electric public utility and;

• Provisions to minimize the impacts to the distribution system of an electric public utility.

• Requires the Board of Public Utilities to convert the Community Solar Energy Pilot Program into a permanent program within 36 months of the adoption of rules and regulations (Sec. 5).

• Requires the Board of Public Utilities to open registration for 3,000 megawatts of solar energy projects by October 1, 2025, and complete registration and credits by December 31, 2029 (Sec. 5).

Full Bill Text