They will generate a combined 2.9 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually — enough to power more than 350 local homes and apartments and prevent more than 2,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere every year.
And the two solar projects in Teterboro and Pennsauken, delivered last week by Solar Landscape, will sell 51% of the electricity produced to low- and moderate-income households.
It’s all part of an ambitious goal by the Asbury Park-based company to deliver enough electricity to power more than 3,000 New Jersey homes for the next 20 years.
The two new community solar projects allow residents of Pennsauken and bordering townships, as well as all of Bergen County, the opportunity to participate in the benefits of clean solar energy without the need for solar panels on their rooftops, Solar Landscape officials said.
By enrolling online, residents direct Public Service Electric & Gas to source their electricity from the local commercial solar project. Enrollment is open to renters and property owners, with no cost to join, no long-term contracts and guaranteed cost savings. In addition to developing the projects, Solar Landscape is working with nonprofit organizations and community leaders to educate residents about the benefits of community solar.
Betsy McBride, the former mayor of Pennsauken, said she’s thrilled by the progress.
“It is exciting to see the statewide community solar program begin to benefit New Jersey residents,” she said. “I was in office when Gov. (Phil) Murphy’s Energy Master Plan was rolled out and was impressed with its focus on cleaner air, energy equity and job training in a growth industry. Cost savings, green energy and access for all is something we can all get behind.”
In January, Solar Landscape joined Murphy, Board of Public Utilities President Joseph Fiordaliso and others as they cut the ribbon on the first community solar project, located in Perth Amboy. According to the NJBPU, this project alone is credited with creating more than 50 permanent, well-paying local jobs that contribute to New Jersey’s clean energy economy.
Since then, Solar Landscape also announced construction has been completed on community solar projects in Wood-Ridge, North Bergen and Edison. To date, the company has completed construction on seven community solar projects totaling more than 17 megawatts of capacity as part of Year 1 of the NJBPU’s Community Solar Energy Pilot Program. Administered by New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program, the community solar pilot program creates more equitable opportunities to access the health and financial benefits of solar energy for all residents.
On April 6, the NJBPU announced it had received 410 applications to participate in Year 2 of its Community Solar Energy Pilot Program, for which Solar Landscape was an applicant. The applications represent 800.5 megawatts of total capacity.
