The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) yesterday approved three initiatives to expand in-state clean energy generation, improve grid reliability and help control electricity costs for New Jersey families and businesses.
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill
NJBPU opened incentives to solar and battery storage projects, opened a second round of storage solicitations, advanced the Competitive Solar Incentive (CSI) Program and approved the country’s largest expansion of a state-run community solar program.
“Solar and battery storage are the fastest and most cost-effective ways to build new electricity generation. Today’s actions advance Gov. Sherrill’s clean energy goals while continuing the board’s commitment to balancing affordability and promoting clean, in-state energy resources,” said NJBPU President Christine Guhl-Sadovy.
NJBPU approved incentives for three battery storage projects under the first solicitation of the Garden State Energy Storage Program (GSESP), totaling 355 MW of capacity — slightly above 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 the PJM regional grid, helping to ease the capacity shortage that has contributed to higher electricity prices across the region. NJBPU expects these projects will incur a costs savings of more than $169 million during operations.
The board also launched the first phase of the second tranche of GSESP projects, opening a second competitive solicitation for 645 MW of additional storage capacity. Gov. Mikie Sherrill issued an executive order on January 20 directing to open this tranche within 45 days of its signing. Once these projects are complete, that will put the state on track to reach 1 GW of transmission-scale storage, with its larger goal of having 2 GW by 2030.
Solar plus storage projects are eligible for this second tranche of projects, as is standalone storage.
Competitive Solar Incentive
The third round of solicitation for New Jersey’s Competitive Solar Incentive has selected three projects totaling 24.12 MW. These projects will receive solar renewable 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).
Upon completion, the North Jersey District Water Supply Commission’s project, at the Wanaque Reservoir, would be the largest floating solar facility in the nation.
NJBPU will open the fourth CSI project solicitation on March 11 with bids due by the end of April 24. New to this round, the board is also seeking solar projects rated at 20 MW or greater.
Expanding community solar
NJBPU approved a 3-GW expansion of New Jersey’s Community Solar Energy Program — the largest capacity allocation in state history — and enough to provide clean energy savings for about 450,000 subscribers.
Project registrations will be accepted through 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 operational projects totaling 228 MW. NJBPU stated in a press release that this expansion will build on that progress, expanding clean energy access, and focusing on building projects on sites like landfills.
Gov. Sherrill signed two executive orders on her first day in office. The first froze rate hikes on energy costs and directed utilities to grant customers residential bill credits. The second executive order tasked the NJBPU with expanding the state’s solar and battery storage programs.
News item from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
