Solar Landscape has connected the first of its award-winning community solar projects to the grid in Neptune. Located on an Extra Space Storage facility, the project is the second of 46 approved by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities in Year 2 of the Community Solar Energy Pilot Program.
The Neptune community solar site will generate approximately 500 kilowatts of energy. Approved by the NJBPU just over a year ago, the project was the first in the state to complete construction, in August. The Extra Space Storage facility is one of 10 New Jersey sites owned by the national self-storage operator that is hosting community solar projects with Solar Landscape.
In December, the project was named Solar Builder’s “U.S. Community Solar Project of the Year,” a recognition Solar Landscape has earned two years in a row.
Residents in Neptune City, Neptune Township, Asbury Park, Avon-by-the-Sea, Belmar, Bradley Beach, Ocean Township, Tinton Falls and Wall Township can subscribe to use solar energy generated on the Extra Space Storage facility rooftop at a guaranteed discount. New Jerseyans in hundreds of other towns across the state can also sign up to receive lower-cost solar energy soon from one of Solar Landscape’s 45 other community solar projects.
“I’m thrilled to see the swift rollout of the Community Solar Program continue, especially locally,” said state Sen. Vin Gopal (D-Ocean Twp.). “The activation of this project will extend solar access to Monmouth County residents who would otherwise be unable to benefit from clean energy, while also making crucial progress toward achieving New Jersey’s clean energy goals.”
“We’re proud to serve the communities where we do business in more ways than one. By meeting customers’ self-storage needs while also powering nearby homes, our facilities show how we can do right by our customers, our communities and the environment,” McKall Morris, communications and sustainability manager for Extra Space Storage, said.
“We look forward to welcoming even more residents to community solar, and it’s especially gratifying when those residents are in our neighborhood,” Shaun Keegan, CEO of Asbury Park-based Solar Landscape, said. “With the support of a commercial real estate leader like Extra Storage Space, we can provide cost-saving solar power to residents, many of whom thought they’d never be able to use solar energy. Just a year ago, we received approval on this project and now it’s providing a valuable benefit to the residents here; we look forward to energizing even more projects very soon.”
The NJBPU’s Community Solar Energy Pilot Program is part of Gov. Phil Murphy’s clean energy agenda. The program expands access to renewable energy for those who previously could not install solar panels for reasons such as high costs, lack of roof control or a shaded property.
Through the New Jersey Community Solar Energy Pilot Program’s Year 1 and 2, Solar Landscape has 70 megawatts of solar energy built or under construction.
