California-based self-storage giant Public Storage, together with Asbury-based Solar Landscape, the leading commercial and industrial rooftop solar developer, have started construction on the first of more than 130 rooftop community solar projects that comprise a multistate community solar partnership.
Together, the 133 community solar installations in New Jersey, Maryland and Illinois will power over 10,000 homes with renewable energy. The 87.53-megawatt (DC) clean energy portfolio is one of the largest in the nation, making affordable renewable energy accessible to low- and moderate-income residents.
The program will allow local community residents to subscribe to nearby solar installations located on Public Storage’s rooftops. Subscribers will receive discounted electricity, often with additional savings for LMI households. Community solar expands access to renewable energy for those who are unable to install solar panels for reasons such as high costs, lack of roof control or insufficient sunlight. Public Storage’s rooftop projects will lower energy bills for subscribers, saving residents millions of dollars per year on electricity costs.
In New Jersey, the 23-megawatt community solar partnership includes 32 Public Storage sites statewide that could serve over 3,500 homes — mostly LMI — with discounted renewable energy. Households could each save an average of $230 annually on home energy bills.
The community solar projects further Public Storage’s commitment to sustainability, which focuses on creating long-term resilience, growth and value for the company’s communities, customers, employees and additional stakeholders.
The 133 committed solar projects in this partnership represent 13% of the company’s commitment to install solar on more than 1,000 properties by 2025.
“Community solar furthers Public Storage’s strong commitments to sustainability and our communities,” John Sambuco, president of asset management, Public Storage, said. “We are providing affordable renewable energy for low- and moderate-income residents, reducing our collective carbon impact on the environment and converting non-used rooftop area into socioeconomically productive space for our company.”
“We are thrilled to collaborate with a forward-thinking company like Public Storage on this nation-leading partnership to expand solar accessibility to underserved communities, particularly low-income families,” Solar Landscape co-founder and CEO Shaun Keegan stated.
