IM Draft: New Jersey Solar Programs: Transition Rising on the Horizon

by Aisha Abdelhamid

In spite of less-than-stellar solar resources, New Jersey nurtures a strong solar market that perennially shines in the US top ten ranking solar states. Guided by visionary state officials, New Jersey solar programs have taken the climate change bull by the horns and are consistently making great progress, year over year. Will this change, now that transitions are clearly rising on the horizon?

[Feature image: https://aishasoffice.files.wordpress.com/2018/12/130113-F-OL753-001.jpg]

[Image Caption: a solar panel installation atop a home in Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. Credit: US Airforce via media.defense.gov]

New Jersey Solar Programs Are Perennially Shining

Pushing the Garden State into the #5 position of top solar states in the nation, the US Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) notes in its 2018 (3rd Qtr) Solar Spotlight Report that New Jersey solar programs are still on a roll in a really big way.

Here are some of the latest New Jersey Solar Stats provided by the SEIA in its 2018 3rd quarter report:

Solar Installed: 2,646.9 MW (363.6 MW in 2017) (i)

2,646.9 MW (363.6 MW in 2017) (i) National Ranking: 5th (11th in 2017)

5th (11th in 2017) State Homes Powered by Solar: 413,000

413,000 Percentage of State’s Electricity from Solar: 98% (ii)

98% (ii) Solar Jobs and Ranking: 7,105 (8th in 2017) (iii)

7,105 (8th in 2017) (iii) Solar Companies in State: 594 companies total; 86 Manufacturers, 370 Installers, 138 Others (iv)

594 companies total; 86 Manufacturers, 370 Installers, 138 Others (iv) Total Solar Investment in State: $ 8,847.69 million ($734.37 in 2017)

$ 8,847.69 million ($734.37 in 2017) Price Declines: 43% over the last 5 years

43% over the last 5 years Growth Projections and Ranking: 2,037 MW over the next 5 years (ranks 11th)

[Image Caption: New Jersey Annual Solar Installations, 2010-2018. Credit: SEIA.org ]

[img url: https://www.seia.org/sites/default/files/inline-images/Web%20Chart%20-%20New%20Jersey_0.png ]

Transition Rising on the Horizon for New Jersey Solar Programs

New Jersey solar programs are going through some changes lately, as can be seen in Legislative Bill A-3723, signed in May 2018. Setting off statewide solar notifications, the bill directs New Jersey’s Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to close the widely popular Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SREC) program to new applicants by June 1, 2021. The SREC eligibility term drops from 15 to 10 years, as well, although solar facilities connected to the grid will still be able to earn RECs beyond the 10-year term.

While many people are reacting negatively to the ending of New Jersey’s current SREC program, the NJ BPU is required by Bill A-3723 to study ways of replacing or changing the SREC program that will “encourage the continued efficient and orderly development of solar renewable generating sources.”

The BPU’s goals for the SREC transition study include finding ways to reduce costs associated with achieving state solar energy goals; determining targets for distribution and grid-connected systems; determining incentive caps that are market-based; determining ways to facilitate market-based recovery of costs via long-term contracts; and providing a smooth transition path from the current SREC program to the new replacement or modified SREC program.

In a more clearly positive change, Bill A-3723 substantially raises the existing Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) goal from 24.4% by 2028 to 50% by 2030. Milestones along the way include goals to reach 21% by 2021 and 35% by 2025. The NJ solar energy production target also received a significant boost, from the previous goal of 4.1% by 2028 to a more ambitious goal of 5.1% by 2021.

NJ Governor Murphy: “a matter of vital importance to our future”

Speaking to reporters prior to signing the new clean energy legislation, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy stated, “One of my goals as governor is to make New Jersey a leader, not just nationally, but globally, in the generation of clean and renewable energy.” He continued, “As a state already seeing the warning signs of climate change this is a matter of vital importance to our future.”

And for the foreseeable future, it looks like solar transitions rising on the NJ horizon will not dim the bright forecast for continued strong solar growth in the Garden State. For a location not ordinarily associated with blinding sunshine, New Jersey solar programs are offering convincing proof that quality quite often outranks quantity.

If you’re one of those lucky citizens of New Jersey still waiting to go solar, or just inspired by the great results of your solar-superhero neighbors in NJ, why not get a personalized solar quote today and join the solar revolution!

40.122293 -74.078800