Gov. Murphy Signs Bill Into Law To Strengthen Community Solar

Trenton – Governor Murphy signed into law today in a bill signing in the Governor’s Office legislation to strengthen the state’s community solar program, increasing its overall size and expanding access by eliminating barriers for low- and moderate- income residents’ participation.

The bill, A4782/S3123,  focused on three areas: 1) Increasing the size of the community solar program based on demand 2) Allow towns to make it easier for low-income residents to subscribe and 3) Streamlining adoption by removing unneeded verification. The Senator prime sponsors were Sen. Bob Smith (D-17) and Sen. Linda Greenstein (D-14) and Asm. John McKeon (D-27), Asm. Dan Benson (D-14) and Asm. Raj Mukherji (D-33).

Community solar is a great tool to expand access to solar regardless of income level or housing type, and to provide every New Jerseyan the chance to choose local, reliable, cleaner and cheaper clean energy solutions. As part of the permanent Community Solar Energy Program, 51 percent of the program’s capacity is devoted to serving working class subscribers, who will receive a minimum 15% bill credit.

Doug O’Malley, Director of Environment New Jersey, released the following statement:

“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. There are hundreds of thousands of residents that want to go solar, but barriers to adoption stopped them in the past – and now it will be even easier. The sleeker permanent community solar program – with its increased capacity and streamlined application process – will bring more solar for all residents and real savings. Community solar is an obvious solution for New Jersey to generate more in-state clean renewable energy and we thank Gov. Murphy, the Legislature and the NJBPU for allowing more residents to go solar.”